KatherinePlumer
Elite Cafe Member
Hello everyone. You may have heard about the recent Orphan Works Bill that if passed will affect the current copyright law and the way in which our work is protected. It is urgent that we oppose this bill NOW. Please read the following information that I am pasting on from other sources (because it explains it better than I can). This is not just some random thing I'm posting, this is "oh wow this could really screw up our profession if it passes" important. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send letters asap!!!
-Katherine
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There's a bill that's been put forward in both the house and the senate called the Orphan Works Bill. Basically it destroys the copyright protections now in place for artists of all media - visual, literature, performing.
here's a portion of one of the letters that explains the situation much better than I can:
"I would like to make it clear that I am not opposed to usage of orphan works by the cultural heritage sector for noncommercial purposes, or use by museums and libraries for preservation and education. But this legislation makes no limitations for these purposes, and will dangerously expose my art to infringements while stripping me of any practical means to protect my work. The bills have been written so broadly it will endanger the rights of anyone who creates intellectual property. Although the Senate and House bills differ slightly, the effect of either would be devastating to freelance artists and photographers, as well as to the licensing and other collateral small businesses that serve, and are dependent on, creators.
What’s worse is, there is no real need for this bill. Under current law, not-for-profit organizations such as libraries, museums and others are already permitted wide use of orphaned works. If they believe they need greater latitude, then a limited exemption should be written to meet their specific needs.
As for commercial users, what’s the downside for those who can’t find the owner of a copyright? If commercial publishers, for example, are uncertain about a work’s copyright status, they can hire an artist to create a new work of art. They’ve been doing it for hundreds of years. Creating new work stimulates the economy. It doesn’t depress it. And stimulating creativity has been one of the traditional goals of copyright law.
I ask you to consider the harm this bill can do to visual artists and vote against it unless it is amended to precisely define an orphan work as a copyright no longer managed by a rights holder."
this is a website where you can point and click and send a message to those who represent you that this bill is NOT a good idea and that it will HURT artists.
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Please go to this site and join the artists in your communities who oppose this legislation. Thank You
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The Orphaned Works battle is on. The Illustrators Partnership of America, American Society of Illustrators Partnership, Advertising Photographers, and others, have set up an effective way to inform you on what these bills will do and give you the tools to write and contact you legislators. If you wish to protect your artistic work from theft and future legal costs, it is incumbent on you to speak out now.
Steps:
1. go to this site:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
2. Read the synopsis of the legislation at the bottom of the page; house bill first.
3. Real all the variations of the letters you can send (if you can stand it). They will give you a better understanding of how to address the issues.
4. Get mad
5. You can send one of the pre-written letters by email, but this will be less effective than a customized letter that shows you know and really care about this issue.
5. To customize a response, copy and paste the bits of the various letter that address the way you feel.
6. Compose them into a personalized version in a word processor.
7. Either paste the appropriate wording back into one of the customized letter forms provided.
or
Get the fax numbers of your representatives and fax a full letter to them for maximum impact.
8. Do it now.
Go here to find your house representative.
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
write them a letter.
Go here to find your Senator contact numbers:
http://www.senate.gov/
(there is a senator finder at the top of the page.)
Go to this website to find a link for an email or mailing address contact for House Judiciary Committee members.
http://judiciary.house.gov/fullcommittee.aspx
Find one that is in or near your State. Write them.
Go to this address for members of the Intellectual Property subcommittee.
http://judiciary.house.gov/committeestructure.aspx?committee=3
Find one that is in or near your State. Write them.
-Katherine
----
There's a bill that's been put forward in both the house and the senate called the Orphan Works Bill. Basically it destroys the copyright protections now in place for artists of all media - visual, literature, performing.
here's a portion of one of the letters that explains the situation much better than I can:
"I would like to make it clear that I am not opposed to usage of orphan works by the cultural heritage sector for noncommercial purposes, or use by museums and libraries for preservation and education. But this legislation makes no limitations for these purposes, and will dangerously expose my art to infringements while stripping me of any practical means to protect my work. The bills have been written so broadly it will endanger the rights of anyone who creates intellectual property. Although the Senate and House bills differ slightly, the effect of either would be devastating to freelance artists and photographers, as well as to the licensing and other collateral small businesses that serve, and are dependent on, creators.
What’s worse is, there is no real need for this bill. Under current law, not-for-profit organizations such as libraries, museums and others are already permitted wide use of orphaned works. If they believe they need greater latitude, then a limited exemption should be written to meet their specific needs.
As for commercial users, what’s the downside for those who can’t find the owner of a copyright? If commercial publishers, for example, are uncertain about a work’s copyright status, they can hire an artist to create a new work of art. They’ve been doing it for hundreds of years. Creating new work stimulates the economy. It doesn’t depress it. And stimulating creativity has been one of the traditional goals of copyright law.
I ask you to consider the harm this bill can do to visual artists and vote against it unless it is amended to precisely define an orphan work as a copyright no longer managed by a rights holder."
this is a website where you can point and click and send a message to those who represent you that this bill is NOT a good idea and that it will HURT artists.
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Please go to this site and join the artists in your communities who oppose this legislation. Thank You
-----
The Orphaned Works battle is on. The Illustrators Partnership of America, American Society of Illustrators Partnership, Advertising Photographers, and others, have set up an effective way to inform you on what these bills will do and give you the tools to write and contact you legislators. If you wish to protect your artistic work from theft and future legal costs, it is incumbent on you to speak out now.
Steps:
1. go to this site:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
2. Read the synopsis of the legislation at the bottom of the page; house bill first.
3. Real all the variations of the letters you can send (if you can stand it). They will give you a better understanding of how to address the issues.
4. Get mad
5. You can send one of the pre-written letters by email, but this will be less effective than a customized letter that shows you know and really care about this issue.
5. To customize a response, copy and paste the bits of the various letter that address the way you feel.
6. Compose them into a personalized version in a word processor.
7. Either paste the appropriate wording back into one of the customized letter forms provided.
or
Get the fax numbers of your representatives and fax a full letter to them for maximum impact.
8. Do it now.
Go here to find your house representative.
https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
write them a letter.
Go here to find your Senator contact numbers:
http://www.senate.gov/
(there is a senator finder at the top of the page.)
Go to this website to find a link for an email or mailing address contact for House Judiciary Committee members.
http://judiciary.house.gov/fullcommittee.aspx
Find one that is in or near your State. Write them.
Go to this address for members of the Intellectual Property subcommittee.
http://judiciary.house.gov/committeestructure.aspx?committee=3
Find one that is in or near your State. Write them.
