SAG National Board Motion

MOTION: ORGANIZING NEW MEDIA: RULE ONE
UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED APRIL 12, 2008 NATIONAL BOARD PLENARY

Whereas new media has changed the way the entertainment industry profits from the exploitation of professional actors' image, voice and likeness and;

Whereas independent producers, many of whom are SAG members, are increasingly producing their own projects for new media free of studio and/or network control and;

Whereas the industry has asserted that creative unions have limited jurisdiction over new media creating confusion among SAG members and;

Whereas new media offers tremendous potential for profit;

Therefore be it resolved that Screen Actors Guild re-asserts jurisdiction over all new media and publicly states our intention to uphold the right and responsibility of every SAG member to only work on new media projects covered by an appropriate union contract.

Due to confusion caused in large part by the industry and their interests, many Screen Actors Guild members have unintentionally violated Rule One by working non-union in the area of new media. Therefore be it further resolved that the staff immediately begin an educational campaign to raise awareness within the membership and the industry of SAG's jurisdiction in new media. Rule One is currently in effect and on December 31, 2008, SAG will vigorously enforce member violations of Rule One in the area of new media.