Washington, D.C. – Re:Create today announced the coalition’s newest member, the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW). OTW is a nonprofit organization established to preserve, protect and provide access to “fanworks” – new creative works such as fiction, video, art, games, and crafts created by fans based on existing media. OTW will work with other coalition members to ensure copyright laws are clear, simple and transparent, while also fostering creativity, fair use, and innovation.
“Fanworks of all forms deserve to be protected. OTW was founded to defend the rights of fans and other creators of transformative expression and we are excited to join Re:Create’s efforts. It is vital that our copyright laws are simple and promote creativity and innovation for all sorts of creators, and that fair use is a valued component of a balanced copyright law,” said Betsy Rosenblatt, OTW’s Legal Chair.
“Fanworks serve a unique and important role in our society and must be protected. Fair use is a critical right that permits the public to use portions of copyrighted material without permission, under certain circumstances, from the copyright owner. Whether it be an adapted story with our favorite characters or an app for our phones, fair use makes creativity and innovation possible. Re:Create is excited to welcome OTW to the coalition and we look forward to all that we will accomplish together,” said Tina Pelkey, spokesperson for Re:Create.
Founded by a group of fans in 2007, OTW believes fan fiction and other fanworks constitute fair use and seeks to strengthen protections for such works. The organization also hosts a database of fan fiction called the Archive of Our Own, and produces a peer-reviewed academic journal called Transformative Works and Cultures, among other services for fans.
The following groups are also members of the Re:Create Coalition: American Library Association, Association of Research Libraries, Center for Democracy & Technology, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Consumer Electronics Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Media Democracy Fund, New America’s Open Technology Institute, Public Knowledge, and R Street Institute.
Re:Create represents a cross-section of creators, advocates, thinkers and consumers seeking to promote copyright standards that foster innovation, creativity and economic growth.