Today is the World Intellectual Property Day and this year we are celebrating ‘Women in innovation and creativity’ worldwide. Initial findings of a study by the Federation of European Film Directors and the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe shows that very few audiovisual authors can make ends meet through their income as an author and needs to find alternative work to support themselves. Female directors and screenwriters suffers particularly from extremely unstable and modest incomes. The median female director makes 12.500 euro from work as a director compared to a median male director that makes 18.000. This is due to overall prevailing gender pay gap in society, as well as barriers for women within the film industry. It will take 51 years before as many women as men direct films. Between 2003-2012 only 1,372 films were directed by female directors alone, compared to 7,357 by male directors alone, according to the study by the Council of Europe. It is therefore crucial to support screenwriter and directors right to fair remuneration for the exploitation of the works because it will make a difference for all creators, women and men. Thanks to you the petition has now reached 15.000 signatories from more than 100 countries! We will be presenting it ahead of the very important vote of the European Parliament on the EU Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market (that has now been postponed until end of June). Till then we are aiming for 30.000 signatories – for this we need your active support to help us promote the petition. Get at least one friend or colleague to sign and we reach our goal! What can you do? 1. SHARE the petition and FOLLOW us on facebook.com/saa.authors and twitter.com/saabrussels 2. TALK to friends, colleagues, networks, and national politicians - refer to the campaign material https://tinyurl.com/ybr3zycf Thank you for your support! Sincerely, FERA - Federation of European Film Directors FSE - Federation of Screenwriters in Europe SAA - Society of Audiovisual Authors