Stephanie: I believe that the writers would be smart to develop their own deals directly with Apple, Google, Microsoft, AT&T, Verizon, and Amazon. This would enable them actually produce and write and control more of their work and set the stage for future writers getting fees. The networks and the studios are trying to get content distribution out of the hands of Google and Apple especially because of the power of YouTube and iTunes. Apple and Google could stream,market and create downloads of original content on their platforms. Apple has not trotted out a social network site, but I can see one coming now to support AppleTv sales and use. Moreover, can you imagine all of the iPod owners and iTunes owners and Mac owners with their own version of Facebook with Google ads and YouTube video. All Apple and Google need is first rate content from writers and independent producers.The new technology has evened out the production field. I know because I am a producer/director/writer and I work in the Washington area on national industrials, commercials with Hollywood types in LA, and independent work nationally. I wrote about this on my sites some time ago, but next week I will be writing a series of articles because my research had been leading me to comment. Now that the music industry is contesting your ability to rip DVDs after planting root kits did not work and suing did not work, I believe the film industry will follow this disgusting legal trend. It will have to take Congressional action from enraged consumers because the courts are bought and paid for on this issue after years of pro-industry political appointees on the bench who seem to have forgotten who really owns the PUBLIC AIRWAVES. The writers joining forces with the progressive and innovative technology companies is a match made out of mutual necessity, and both sides are smart (and often more principle-driven than money driven). -----Original Message----- From: air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Tuszynski, Stephanie Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 2:39 PM To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Subject: Re: [Air-L] writers striking for internet payment? Marcela - As a writer/director myself, I've been following the WGA strike very closely. Screenwriters are compensated at the rate of one-third of a penny for every digital download (i.e. iTunes), and nothing for streaming video. The networks are claiming when they stream a television show on their websites it's a "promotion" and therefore the current contract doesn't require them to pay the writers/actors/etc. The television writers feel they are not being fairly compensated. Neither are the actors or directors, for that matter. This is only one of the issues at stake, however. Residuals for DVD sales (which are currently at $.04 per disc) and other terms of the contract which expired in October are also on the table. I don't really see how the EFF would have any interest in this, as this is a business practice issue, not a legal one. There's no law requiring the AMPTP to pay anyone any specific rate for digital content. There's no question of access or legal activity, just corporations behaving badly because they think they can. I can tell you that the SEIU, the teamsters local in LA and both the Screen Actor's Guild and Director's Guilds are all supporting the WGA. The actors and directors have as much a stake in this as the writers, obviously. A completely partisan site on behalf of the WGA is www.unitedhollywood.com Also, for those of you who heard about the strike and like me immediately thought of all the craftspeople and below the line crew who are now out of work while the strike goes on, The Motion Picture & Television Fund has set up a Work Stoppage relief fund to help those people. You can donate online here: http://new.mptvfund.org/cm/Foundation/Donate%20Online.html Stephanie Tuszynski Visiting Assistant Professor Department of Theatre and Film University of Toledo www.dlfilms.com Message: 1 Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2007 20:58:38 -0500 From: "Marcela Musgrove" <mmusgrove@gmail.com> Subject: [Air-L] writers striking for internet payment? To: air-l@listserv.aoir.org Message-ID: <a000d0c60712311758v70bc62b9t5bafe3eb197c9041@mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 I hadn't really been paying attention to the writer's strike going on but just found out today that it's over writers wanting to be paid residuals when their TV shows are shown on the internet. So now I'm surprised that there hasn't been more online discussion/activism/petitions though I was able to see some videos on YouTube that explained what was going on. Has anyone been following this closely? Would this be relevant to EFF or any of the other advocacy groups? Happy new year! Marcela _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/