AIGA advocates creative rights before Supreme Court

NEW YORK, APRIL 11, 2008. AIGA, in partnership with the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America and other associations representing photography and publishing, has filed an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in the Perfect 10 v. Visa case, seeking the court’s reconsideration of the case.

In Perfect 10 v. Visa, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that Visa did not have a secondary liability for copyright infringement in processing payment for a company that was known to be violating copyright protections on creative property. AIGA is arguing that if the court found that Grokster had responsibility for facilitating the downloading of music without proper recognition of creative rights and limitations, then Visa should be held to the same standard. A successful argument in this case would enhance the opportunities for the creative community to hold larger intermediaries accountable for trade in pirated creative work.

A PDF version of the Perfect 10 v. Visa brief may be downloaded.

About AIGA

AIGA, the professional association for design, is the oldest and largest membership association for design professionals engaged in the discipline, practice and culture of designing. AIGA’s mission is to advance designing as a professional craft, strategic tool and vital cultural force.

Founded in 1914, AIGA is the preeminent professional association for communication designers, broadly defined. In the past decade, designers have increasingly been involved in creating value for clients (whether public or business) through applying design thinking to complex problems, even when the outcomes may be more strategic, multidimensional and conceptual than what most would consider traditional communication design. AIGA now represents more than 22,000 designers of all disciplines through national activities and local programs developed by 59 chapters and 240 student groups.

AIGA supports the interests of professionals, educators and students who are engaged in the process of designing. The association is committed to stimulating thinking about design, demonstrating the value of design and empowering success for designers throughout the arc of their careers.

For further information, please contact:
Katie English
AIGA | the professional association for design
Tel 212 807 1990   Fax 212 807 1799
katie_english [at] aiga [dot] org