Copyright is the legal foundation of the creative economy serving not just the interests of entertainment companies, but also individuals – whether you are an established creator or someone just breaking into the industry.

This panel – originally aired as part of the 2020 American Black Film Festival – explores how copyright law can serve as an instrument of empowerment, independence and expression for members of historically disadvantaged communities, and discusses the challenges and opportunities faced by diverse creators seeking to tell their stories and protect their work in this fast-changing business.

In light of recent events, our Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin sent this email to MPA staff.

We applaud Secretary Mnuchin and Congress on the passage of the CARES Act. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis is a threat to the entire global economy, including creative industries – and this bill provides critical relief for independent contractors, freelancers, and small businesses who are the backbone of the entertainment industry and among those whose livelihoods are hardest hit by the current public health crisis.

The 2019 THEME Report is a comprehensive analysis and survey of the theatrical and home/mobile entertainment market environment. It provides in-depth analysis of how the film, television, and streaming content industry performed in 2019, as well as an audience demographic survey. This year’s expanded study includes new data on mobile viewing habits of audiences in the United States, including the frequency and time spent on mobile devices viewing content.

Motion Picture Association Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin lauded Gov. Murphy's expansion of the New Jersey production incentive program. The newly signed law will keep the existing program in place for an additional five years, until July 1, 2028. It will also expand the annual cap on qualified production expenses to $100 million annually.

The Association will be known both domestically and internationally as the “Motion Picture Association.” Regional divisions around the world will use the “Motion Picture Association” name, in addition to a geographic identifier. An updated version of the iconic “globe and reel” logo that is so familiar to American moviegoers will now be used by all regional offices.

The Motion Picture Association recently released a report to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its film rating system. The report, “G” is for Golden: The Motion Picture Association Film Ratings at 50, includes the results of a new survey of American parents, never-before-released, comprehensive data on the nearly 30,000 films rated since 1968, and a detailed look at the history, evolution, and process behind the ratings.

Charlie Rivkin took over as the CEO of the Motion Picture Association in late 2017. He is perhaps uniquely qualified for the role running the trade and lobbying organization for the Hollywood film industry; he worked in entertainment, including a stint as the CEO of The Jim Henson Co. before serving as an ambassador to France, followed by time as an Assistant Secretary at the State Department under President Obama. In an interview with Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal, Rivkin talked about why President Donald Trump hasn't been bad for the entertainment industry, the enormity of the overseas market for Hollywood movies, and why he's not at all worried about a content bubble.

Bringing creative content to the screen depends on the passion of creators from a wide array of backgrounds, geographies, skills, and pursuits. We are committed to building an inclusive pipeline and telling the diverse stories in our industry to advance the art and business of America’s creative economy.