READ the Orphan Works Bills NOW!
This proposed amendment to the Copyright Act is designed to allow the use of copyrighted works in the event that the copyright owner can not be found to acquire the appropriate license, hence the term Orphan Works…
That sounds fine on the surface, but what kind of ‘good-faith’ search would a prospective user of the artwork need to preform? Where would they start the search? When would they give up the search? In my opinion, this Bill creates an effective method for legalized theft of countless works of arts, and creates a new big business in the process.
The Bills before both the House and Senate will do nothing to strengthen the rights of copyrights owners, and instead will impose a heavy and costly burden for the artist who wishes to protect their intellectual property.
The real winner in this deal will be the *NEW* registry businesses that will be created to “privatize” the copyright process. All work would have to be registered (or re-registered in the case of previously registered copyrights) by these *NEW* companies, and at what unknown cost? In addition, artists may be forced to pay for registration across a number of registry companies to prove due-diligence of their registration. With tens of millions of photos, music and artwork created each year it’s easy to see the dollar signs in the eyes of this new industry. Artists will be forced to pay for ownership of their own creations!
If you are a artist of any type (painter, photographer, musician, illustrator, printmaker, textile designer, etc), TAKE THE TIME TO UNDERSTAND THIS LEGISLATION and voice your opinion with your elected officials NOW. The laws could be changing to protect the infringer instead of the creator.
A quick Internet search on “Orphan Works” will bring up a host of information. Get educated! Inform yourself today. You can read the House and Senate Versions of the actual Bills here:
H.R. 5889 The Orphan Works Act of 2008
S 2913 The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008
The Orphan Works Bills are making their way through both the House and Senate and are expected to be fast tracked through the legislative process by summer 2008. This bill should be taken seriously Let your voice be heard! Share your comments here, and everywhere!
Tags: best practice, copyright, registration
May 1st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I agree. Lets get up a petition!!
May 1st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
hi Lyn
thanks for the heads up..this is total BUllSH&*
im outraged and upset..
time for a art revolution!!!~
May 1st, 2008 at 1:14 pm
I think the best approach is to contact your State Representative and your Senators and let them know your mind.
Senators: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Represenatives: http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW_by_State.shtml
May 1st, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Here is a link to a petition!
http://www.petitiononline.com/dAvsOW/petition.html
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:05 am
Thanks for heading this up, Lyn.
May 2nd, 2008 at 10:19 am
I have been reading and discussing this for several years now. Apparently, not even Our elected officials care about this serious problem.
Even if they find you, they can ” Too Late, Creep!”
This is a horrible bill.
I believe if you are incontrol of an item in your life and you have heirs and they have heirs and they have heirs etc, I believe that is where the works belong.
Unless you have permission.
Why? With the invent of digital, There is a photographer in Canada that has made his living suing honest people even in the United States over paintings of The American Bald Eagle. He must be doing some good money - the judges seem to always side with Him. Yet, I have photos of The Bald Eagle and I looked at some of his against mine. On a first view a Mature Eagle is a Mature Eagle.
What are we to do?
Sherrie Roberts
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
Hi Lyn, this came through in the photoshop users’ email; thanks so much–it is scary! Peace, Leah
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:32 am
I would like permission to publish this on the Stock Artist Alience web site. Thank you.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Online petitions are fine and dandy, but the real power is by joining a trade association like APA or SAA (for photographers) as there is greater strength in numbers, and as trade associations they can lobby congress more effectively.
My 2 cents.
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Thanks for sharing this, we nee this information and also need to move toward expressing our disgust about it. This is a shame and a sham
May 4th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hey Lyn,
Thanks for bringing this out! The bill is definitely upsetting and I agree with all of your friends on this forum that the artist community must combat this on a war footing!
What else can be done apart from signing the petition? I seriously want to know!
May 7th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Apparently, Creative Commons and some non profits are pushing this bill. It is appalling to think that certain entities in this country aren’t interested in protecting the creative minds. It is important that anyone concerned about this issue takes a moment to speak out against it. Get your voices heard. Write your representatives. Better yet, CALL THEM.