New York, NY - September 24, 2008 -
In an effort to encourage enhanced development of innovative and creative
Internet content distributed over safe and reliable networks, the technology and
creative communities today announced the creation of a new advocacy group,
Arts+Labs. Arts+Labs is a collaboration between creators and innovators who
regard the Internet as a vibrant town center where all consumers can safely
choose from a vast array of digital products, entertainment and services.
Because quality content drives the Internet, Arts+Labs and its founding members:
AT&T, Viacom, NBC Universal, Cisco, Microsoft and the Songwriters Guild of
America, also aims to ensure that artists, creators and innovators can safely
share their works through new online distribution channels with confidence that
their right to earn fair compensation for their creativity is respected.
A key element of the Arts+Labs
mission is to inform and educate consumers about the availability and vast array
of legal, safe, affordable and innovative entertainment content on the
Internet. The group will also raise awareness of the growing problem of net
pollution - which includes viruses, malware, hack attacks, spam, illegal file
trafficking and other activity that threatens to degrade consumers' Internet
experience.
Arts+Labs is co-chaired by
Mike McCurry, former White House
press secretary to President Bill Clinton (1995-1998) and public policy
spokesperson and Mark McKinnon, a
former songwriter and newspaper editor who is widely regarded as one of the most
conscientious and insightful voices on the use of modern media. Rick Carnes,
president of the Songwriter's Guild of America, and Chuck Sims, of the law firm
Proskauer Rose also have agreed to join Arts+Labs as the first members of the
group's Advisory Board.
"Arts+Labs believes that quality
content drives the Internet and that distribution of easily accessible,
affordable content in the Internet age requires new business models," said
Arts+Labs co-chair Mark McKinnon. "We
also strongly feel that every effort should be made to ensure that artists
benefit from their creativity. Arts+Labs will work to ensure that consumers know
where to access safe and legal online content while promoting artists' and
innovators' ability to easily share their ingenuity
through a range of new, online
distribution channels with the confidence that their legal rights will be
respected."
Co-chair Mike McCurry emphasized that consumers are the
biggest beneficiaries in the Arts+Labs' vision.
"We want consumers to have
exponentially greater opportunities to access creative content in a variety of
formats, and with confidence that they are safe from viruses, hackers, malware,
illegal file trafficking and other net pollution that puts them at risk,"
McCurry said.
Rick Carnes, who has written several
number one country western songs, said that artists and consumers share a common
interest in protecting artists' legal rights.
"The Internet provides access to the
largest possible audience, which is a real opportunity for songwriters," Carnes
said. "Arts+Labs supports an Internet environment that recognizes the vital
role creators play, while offering consumers a digital concert hall of safe,
legal and affordable music."
Beginning today in New York City,
the Arts+Labs team is setting out on a three-city media tour to raise awareness
of the opportunities and challenges that the Internet presents for consumers,
artists, and the technology community alike. During stops in New York, Nashville and
Los Angeles, a
broad-based group of representatives will be on hand to field questions and
address key issues about the Internet's potential to deliver new and innovative
content to consumers safely and securely.
Arts+Labs Co-Chairs and Advisory
Board Members:
Mike
McCurry
Mike
McCurry is a veteran political spokesperson
with 30-years experience of Washington DC
policy experience.
McCurry served in the White
House as press secretary to President Bill Clinton from 1995-1998. He also
served as spokesman for the Department of State (1993-1995) and director of
communications for the Democratic National Committee (1988-1990). McCurry has
also held leadership roles in several national campaigns, including national
press secretary for the vice presidential campaign of Senator Lloyd M. Bentsen
(1988), and spokesman and political strategist in the presidential campaigns of
Senator John Glenn (1984), Governor Bruce Babbitt (1988), Senator Bob Kerrey
(1992), and Senator John Kerry (2004).
McCurry also serves on boards or
advisory councils for Share Our Strength, the Junior Statesmen Foundation, the
Wesley Theological Seminary, and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and
International Affairs at Princeton University. He has also been involved in
Internet issues as Chairman of Hands Off the
Internet.
Mark
McKinnon
Mark McKinnon is a media producer
and communications strategist who has served as chief media advisor to the
presidential campaigns of George W. Bush and John McCain. Early in his career,
McKinnon worked for Democratic candidates including Michael Dukakis, Governors
Mark White and Ann Richards (Texas), Buddy
Roemer (Louisiana) and the infamous Congressman
Charlie Wilson.
According to Broadcasting and Cable magazine, McKinnon
is one of "a handful of players behind every big decision, consensus or
roadblock in Washington...putting a unique, sometimes hidden
stamp on the outcome of today's debates."
In his first career,
McKinnon spent several years in Nashville working as a songwriter with Kris
Kristofferson. After winning the Kerrville Texas Folk Festival Songwriter
Competition in 1975, McKinnon moved to Austin where he worked for several years as a
touring musician before turning his attention to journalism as editor of The
Daily Texan then to politics.
McKinnon recently served on the
Broadcasting Board of Governors and currently serves on the board of the Lance
Armstrong Foundation. He lectures frequently at the JFK School of Government at
Harvard University and the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the
University of Texas at Austin.
Rick
Carnes
Rick Carnes has been the president
of the Songwriters Guild of America since 2002. An accomplished music
professional, he brings to Arts+Labs a well-rounded offering of hands-on
songwriting/performing/recording experience as well as in-depth understanding of
the issues facing today's music business and experience in education.
Carnes' music career is highlighted
by two number-one singles, including the highest chart entry single in Billboard
history. He is the winner of eight ASCAP awards with 38 platinum and six gold
albums totaling over 40 million record sales. In addition, he has to his credit
five top-ten singles, seven top-twenty singles and eleven top-forty
singles.
He has made significant
contributions to legislative victories on behalf of music industry, in general,
and songwriters, in particular. He developed strategy for SGA amicus brief in
the Ehldred vs. Ashcroft Supreme Court case and lobbied congress for SGA in
support of Audio Home Recording Act in 1992, Induce Act in 2004, as well as
Perform Act and SIRA. In addition, he has served as witness before U.S. Senate
and U.S. House of Representatives in SIRA reform bill, 2006 and before the FCC
in 2006 Media Consolidation.
Chuck
Sims
Chuck Sims has been a lawyer with
Proskauer Rose LLP since 1986. Since joining Proskauer, Chuck has concentrated
on copyright, First Amendment, defamation law, and complex federal appellate and
trial matters. Chambers & Partners' America's Leading Business Lawyers
calls him "one of the foremost IP media lawyers, particularly for his knowledge
of copyright issues," and described him as "that rare lawyer who has strengths
both in theoretical and practical understanding" and as having a "strong talent
for oral arguments."
About
Arts+Labs
Arts+Labs, founded in
September 2008, is a coalition of the world's leading organizations founded upon
the core belief that quality content drives the Internet; that distribution of
easily accessible, affordable content in the Internet age requires new business
models; and that creators deserve to benefit from their creativity. Arts+Labs
aims to ensure that artists and innovators can easily and effectively share
their creativity through new distribution channels online, secure in the
confidence that their rights will be respected and their ingenuity rewarded. Our
commitment to consumers is that we will work to keep them informed about how and
where they can find and safely enjoy the vast array of legal, affordable, and
innovative entertainment content on the Internet. Current members include
AT&T, Viacom, NBC Universal, Cisco, Microsoft and the Songwriters Guild of
America.
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