In recent years, major media corporations have canceled and erased completed works of art, including films, shows, and other intellectual property (IP), using them as tax write-offs. This practice allows companies to erase valuable creative works from existence, reaping tax benefits while blocking public access to art that could have enriched our culture. This erasure prevents Artists from sharing their work and deprives fans and communities of unique cultural experiences.

Notable examples include Warner Bros. Discovery, which after its 2022 merger, canceled popular and completed titles such as Final Space, Batgirl, and Coyote vs. Acme. Reports show Warner Bros. Discovery has written off over $825 million in content since the merger. The pattern extends beyond Warner Bros. Discovery, with companies like Disney and Paramount Global also removing completed series and movies from streaming platforms to reduce tax liabilities.

When media companies eliminate art for financial gain, they disregard the years of dedication put in by artists and creators, give public access, and prioritize profit over people. We believe that if a corporation chooses to cancel and erase completed work as a tax write-off, that work should enter the public domain so it can be accessed and preserved for future generations.

We demand that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigate this practice and implement regulations to protect art and culture from corporate erasure.

Join us in calling on the FTC to ensure that if companies write off creative projects for tax purposes, those works are preserved in the public domain. By signing this petition, you stand with creators, artists, and communities who deserve access to meaningful, diverse, and unique media.