DGA PRESS RELEASE

An official press release from the DGA with regard to the CleanFlicks of Colorado Lawsuit:

DGA denounces lawsuit filed against 16 directors by two entities engaged in unauthorized editing of films (August 29, 2002)

Robert Huntsman and Clean Flicks of Colorado, L.L.C., filed suit in U.S. District Court for the district of Colorado on Thursday, August 29, 2002 naming 16 renowned directors as defendants, seeking the Court’s determination as to whether their editing practices are protected under Federal Copyright law. The Directors Guild of America, which represents over 12,000 members, offers this statement in response to the suit.

“A cursory review by the Directors Guild of America and our legal counsel of the lawsuit filed today in Denver shows it to be wholly without merit. In fact, we believe it is the plaintiffs who, through their unauthorized altering of original works, are in violation of the law.

“Appallingly, the plaintiffs rely on the right to free speech guaranteed by the First Amendment as an excuse to alter original works and pass them along—for profit—to the public. Perhaps they are unaware that the United States Constitution directed Congress to pass laws to ensure that the creators of original works had the “exclusive right” to their work and prohibited their unauthorized exploitation by others for financial gain.

“The Directors Guild of America will vigorously protect the rights of its members, and we are confident that any efforts to legitimize the unauthorized editing and alteration of movies will be resoundingly defeated.”

For more information or press inquires please contact:
Carol Stogsdill and/or Andrew Levy
Directors Guild of America