Free Our Art protects artists' rights in legal matters

A new non-profit called Free Our Art has launched to protect artists' First Amendment rights. It aims to stop the use of creative works, especially song lyrics, as evidence in court. The group supports legislation to limit this practice. The Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act was reintroduced in 2023, with similar bills being considered in several states. Free Our Art highlights nearly 700 cases where lyrics were used in legal proceedings, mainly in hip-hop. The organization has backing from major arts groups and industry leaders. It seeks to ensure that artists can create freely without fear of legal repercussions related to their work.