Statement from SAG, DGA, IATSE and WGA on Release of City/County Commissioned LAEDC Piracy Study

Los Angeles (February 16, 2007)—The following is a statement from the Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) in response to today’s announcement by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. City Council President Pro Tempore Wendy Greuel, and City Council Member Jan Perry on the findings of a City/County-commissioned study by the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. (LAEDC) on the economic impact of piracy in all its forms on Los Angeles. The announcement also calls for the creation of a City/County Task Force to address this problem.

“We commend Mayor Villariagosa, Los Angeles City Council President Pro Tempore Wendy Greuel, City Council Member Jan Perry, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky for their foresight in commissioning this comprehensive study on the impact of piracy, in all its forms, on the economy of this City. As the study underscores, the financial effect of piracy is measured in the loss of billions of dollars and more then a hundred thousand jobs. These figures, staggering as they are, are more than just numbers. They have a human face and it is that of the directors, actors, writers and crew members we represent. Their livelihoods, health benefits, and pension plans are inextricably tied to the sale of their films and TV productions after they are seen in the theatres or on television. Piracy strikes at the very heart of the compensation our members receive for the work they do. We are glad that attention to this problem will not die with the completion of this study, and we look forward to participating in the efforts of the newly created Task Force.”