EWC
  • ABOUT US
    • WHO WE ARE
    • OUR BOARD and Team
    • OUR MEMBERS
    • STATUTES
    • MEDIA
    • CONTACT US
  • NEWS
    • NEWSROOM
    • EVENTS
    • PROJECTS
      • #FREE ALL WORDS
      • AGAINST WRITOIDS
  • ALLIANCES
    • JOINT STATEMENTS
    • STAKEHOLDERS
  • AUTHORS’ RIGHTS
    • ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
    • ARTISTIC FREEDOM
    • CONTRACTS
    • EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
    • E-LENDING
    • PLR
    • STATEMENTS
    • SURVEYS
    • WORKING GROUPS
  • CULTURE POLICY
    • DAY OF EUROPEAN AUTHORS
    • #BEHINDEVERYBOOK
    • CRISIS MONITORING
    • DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
  • CULTURAL EXCHANGE
    • EWC BURNING ISSUES FORUM
    • EWC LITERARY EVENTS

CURRENT PROJECT

Free All Words#FreeAllWords: International Text and Translation Fund of the European Writers‘ Council (EWC) gives a voice to authors from Belarus and Ukraine

freeallwords.com

European Writers’ Council and Authors Guild Join Forces to Advocate for Authors’ Rights and Address Emerging Challenges

28th July 2023

The European Writers’ Council (EWC) and the Authors Guild have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on promoting and protecting the rights and freedoms of authors in an evolving literary landscape.

BRUSSELS/NEW YORK—27 of July 2023

Press release

The European Writers’ Council (EWC) and the Authors Guild have entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on promoting and protecting the rights and freedoms of authors in an evolving literary landscape. As worldwide threats increase towards authors, especially with the public release of generative AI, the EWC and the AG wish to build a strong collaboration to address the issues on a global level. This landmark agreement brings together two prominent organisations representing professional writers from Europe and the United States.

The EWC, a non-profit federation comprised of 49 national professional writers’ and literary translators’ associations and unions from 31 European countries, along with the Authors Guild, the oldest and largest professional organisation for published writers in the United States with over 13.000 members, recognise the need for joint action to address common challenges faced by authors worldwide.

Acknowledging the shared views on the defense of authors’ rights and freedoms, as well as the impact of legislative texts on the cultural sector in both Europe and the United States, the EWC and Authors Guild aim to work together on various initiatives. These initiatives include sharing knowledge and best practices related to the book sector, addressing the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on copyright, professional ethics, and freedom of expression, and coordinating strategies and campaigns to tackle political, ethical, economic, and legal issues pertaining to AI and other matters of mutual interest.

Under the MOU, the parties have agreed to hold regular meetings, share agendas, and participate in discussions pertaining to AI and other relevant topics. The duration of the MOU is ongoing until the Parties believe its purpose has been achieved.

Mary Rasenberger, CEO of the Authors Guild, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating:

This partnership between the EWC and the Authors Guild is a significant step towards fostering a global community of authors. By joining forces, we can work together to ensure the protection of authors’ rights and address the challenges posed by emerging technologies and legislative developments. These are cross-continental issues that need urgent action on a grand scale.

 

The EWC and the Authors Guild affirm their commitment to advocating for authors’ rights and freedoms, promoting fair contracts, and establishing a supportive community among writers. This collaboration represents a crucial alliance in the international literary landscape and signals a united front in the face of evolving challenges.

New threats are arising across the world, not only to writers’ professional rights, but also to moral ones. Our job is to defend our role in society and human development, as well as citizens’ freedom of expression. Partnering with our US-American colleagues allows our organisations to have a wider perspective on politic, technical, and economic changes in both continents. Coordination and alliances are vital for all of us,

posed Miguel Ángel Serrano, President of the European Writers’ Council.

 

For media inquiries, please contact:

Nicole Pfister Fetz, Secretary-General of the European Writers’ Council (EWC) under:

nicole.pfisterfetz(at)europeanwriterscouncil.eu

Download the Media Information:

EWC_AG_Press_Release_final european version

About the European Writers’ Council

The European Writers’ Council (EWC) is a non-profit, non-governmental federation representing 49 national professional writers and literary translators associations and unions from 31 European countries, including European Union Member States, the EFTA countries, and the United Kingdom. The EWC comprises over 220.000 professional authors in the book sector, collectively working in 34 languages.

About the Authors Guild

With more than 13.000 members, the Authors Guild is the nation’s oldest and largest professional organisation for published writers. It advocates on behalf of working writers to protect free speech, freedom of expression, and authors’ copyrights; fights for fair contracts and authors ability to earn a livable wage; and provides a welcoming community for writers and translators of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and journalism. Through its educational and charitable arm, the Authors Guild Foundation, it also offers free programming to teach working writers about the business of writing, as well as organising public events that highlight the importance of a rich, diverse American literary culture and the authors who contribute to it.

***

Learn more about the EWC Campaign agAInstWritoids

 

Previous Post
European Writers’ Council (EWC) second Statement on the AI Act Proposal
Next Post
EWC launches the initiative AGAINST WRITOIDS

NEWS

EWC Resolution: The Threats by US AI Tech Oligopolies on culture, authors’ rights and freedom of Expression

June 3, 2025

THE EWC’s AI TOOL KIT FOR THE BOOK SECTOR

June 10, 2024

AGM Oslo 2025, Burning Issues & NEW BOARD 2025-2027

June 2, 2025

Code of Practice: EWC and European Human and Civil Rights Organisations urge Commissioner Virkkunen to bring back public transparency

July 4, 2025

Joint Statement: Authors, book professionals and literature need a proper funding and reading promotion, especially at the funding of Creative Europe

June 27, 2025

Joint letter to the European Parlament: Protecting the rights of creators and artists vs generative AI

June 19, 2025

EWC at the Workshop Generative AI and Copyright upon invitation of the Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI)

June 7, 2025

EWC contributed to the Call of Evidence for the Culture Compass

May 29, 2025
EWC
info@europeanwriterscouncil.eu
+32 2 290 92 50
European Writers’ Council
(EWC-FAEE AISBL)
Rue du Prince Royal 85-87
1050 Brussels
Belgium
Get in touch
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
EWC
IMPRINT
PRIVACY POLICY
MEMBERS AREA
Related Links
balticwriterscouncil.info
ceatl.eu
culturalcreators.eu
ifrro.org
plrinternational.com
Current Projects
Free All Words


Fee and Translation Fund for texts by Authors from Countries under pressure


We, writers, claim for our rights as authors and professionals.

© 2022 European Writers’ Council | All rights reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you continue to use this site, you agree with it. PRIVACY POLICY