Jun 29 2009
Our Copyright is under threat again!
This blog is longer than normal, but for good reason. Last year we successfully fought off a horrible Orphan Works bill in Congress that would have destroyed our copyright protection. The bill is back. Below is a letter from the Illustrator’s Partnership about this legislation.
We have to stand up and protect our work!
Mark Simon
Artist Advocate
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP
Orphan Works: Back Again 6.17.09 In Orphan Works Land, no news has been good news, but that’s about to change: US Copyright Register Marybeth Peters told Intellectual Property Watch that orphan works legislation is expected to be introduced within the next 10 days. It is her understanding there may still be some issues in the House version to be resolved, and there are some stakeholders – such as illustrators and other artists – “who are probably going to lobby pretty hard against it.”
Peters said this issue is important to her, and the fact it came so close to passing last year is almost bittersweet. “What I hope it isn’t … is it’s one magic moment you get” to finally get it passed, then it doesn’t happen, she said.
We’re opposed because its scope far exceeds the needs of responsible orphan works legislation. Moreover, illustrators and artists are not the only stakeholders who oppose it. At last count, more than 83 creators organizations are on record against it, representing artists, photographers, writers, songwriters, musicians and countless small businesses. Last year, we proposed amendments to the Orphan Works Act that would have made it a true orphan works bill. The amendments were drafted by the attorney who was chief legal counsel to the House Judiciary Committee in drafting the 1976 Copyright Act. The amendments were co-sponsored by the Artists Rights Society and the Advertising Photographers of America. They can be found here: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/2008/07/hr-5889-amendments.html On July 11, 2008, we submitted those amendments to both the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. In our preamble we wrote this: As rights holders, we can summarize our hopes for the Orphan Works Act simply: to see that it becomes a true orphan works bill, with no unnecessary spillover effect to damage the everyday commercial activities of working artists. We’d be happy to work with Congress to accomplish this. No legislation regarding the use of private property should be considered without the active participation of those whose property is at stake.
We urge this Congress to listen. - Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators’ Partnership ______________________________________________________________
Over 83 organizations opposed the last Orphan Works bills, representing over half a million creators. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses. If you received our mail as a forwarded message and wish to subscribe to the IPA mailing alerts, click on the link below, “Join Our Mailing List” and follow the simple directions on the webpage. |