FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP
Orphan Works: Senate Hotline Revisited
12.06.08
Yesterday, many of us received a letter from our Senator, one of the most prominent lawmakers in the country, expressing his support for strong intellectual property rights protections as a necessary stimulus to creativity and entrepreneurship.
He stated that the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008, S.2913 "is currently being carefully considered by the Senate," and he assured us:
"Members of my staff have met with representatives of artists and small business owners who have expressed many of the same concerns you mentioned. I will continue to closely study developments on this bill and I will work with both my Senate colleagues and the...artist community to ensure that any bill that is ultimately passed appropriately balances these competing concerns."
We've written to the Senator to inform him that the Shawn Bentley Act passed in the Senate on September 28, 2008, by unanimous consent, including his.
Frankly, we don't blame the Senator for not knowing that he's allegedly consented to a bill that would strip his constituents of their intellectual property rights without due process. Considering the way this controversial bill was drafted behind closed doors and passed by hotline, we suspect many Senators aren't aware that they've "consented" to this radical change to U.S. Copyright law either.
This makes it all the more important that the House not pass their version of this bill (H.R.5889) by a similar legislative maneuver.
Orphan Works legislation should be held over until the next Congress and subjected to an open and transparent public debate. Laws affecting the intellectual property rights of all citizens should not be brokered by lawyers and lobbyists in backroom deals.
Monday the Senate will convene for a lame duck session. A spokesman for House Speaker Pelosi confirmed yesterday that the House will convene on Tuesday. For now, the House is where we need to focus our attention.
House sources continue to assure us that Orphan Works is not on the agenda. However every prior effort to pass the bill by legislative maneuver was prefaced by similar assurances, so we believe it's in our best interests to stay vigilant. We'll update you as we learn more.
- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
Starting Monday we'll conclude our series of little known facts about this legislation.
Showing posts with label Orhpan Art Bill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orhpan Art Bill. Show all posts
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO PREVENT THIS BILL FROM PASSING!
Orphan Works: The Devil's Own Day
Never Too Busy to Pass Special
Interest Legislation 9.28.08
As lawmakers struggled Friday to clean up the mess on Wall Street, sponsors of the Orphan Works Act passed more special interest legislation. Their bill would force copyright holders to subsidize giant copyright databases run by giant internet firms.
Like the companies now needing billion dollar bailouts, these copyright registries - which would theoretically contain the entire copyright wealth of the US - would presumably be "too big to fail." Yet it's our wealth, not theirs, the scheme would risk.
Small business owners didn't ask for this legislation. We don't want it and we don't need it. Our opposition numbers have been growing daily. So Friday, the bill's sponsors reached for the hotline.
What is Hotlining?
Critics of hotlining say "that lawmakers are essentially signing off on legislation neither they nor their staff have ever read."
"In order for a bill to be hotlined, the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader must agree to pass it by unanimous consent, without a roll-call vote. The two leaders then inform Members of this agreement using special hotlines installed in each office and give Members a specified amount of time to object - in some cases as little as 15 minutes. If no objection is registered, the bill is passed."
- Roll Call, Sept 17, 2007
In other words, a Senate bill can pass by "unanimous consent" even if some Senators don't know about it.
The Devil's Own Day
Senators Leahy and Hatch hotlined the Orphan Works Act twice last summer. Each time came at the end of a day, at the end of a week, near the end of a legislative session. Each time lawmakers were distracted by other issues and other plans. Each time artists rallied quickly and each time a Senator put a hold on the bill.
Friday the Senators found a new opportunity.
With lawmakers struggling to package a 700 billion dollar bailout to avert a worldwide economic meltdown, with the rest of the country focused on Presidential debates, with Washington in chaos and Congressional phone lines jammed, they hotlined an amended bill. On short notice, even the legislative aides we could reach by phone said they didn't have time to read it. And so, while we were rushing to get out a second email blast to artists, the bill passed by "unanimous consent" - in other words, by default.
What better way to pass a bill that was drafted in secret than to pass it while nobody's looking?
Since Friday, artists have been conducting bitter post mortems on their blogs. That's understandable, but it's not time yet.
"When Sherman arrived at Grant's headquarters later that evening, he found the general - broken sword and all - chewing on a soggy cigar in the rain, which had begun soaking the battlefield.
'Well, Grant,' Sherman said to his friend, 'we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?'
'Yes,' replied Grant, 'lick 'em tomorrow, though.'"
The Senate passed their bill Friday, but the House hasn't. There's still time to write, phone and fax your congressional representatives. Tell them not to let the House Judiciary Committee fold their bill and adopt the Senate's.
Tell Congress to protect the private property of small businesses. Lick 'em tomorrow.
- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
Quote from "The Devil's Own Day," by Christopher Allen, January 2000 America's Civil War Magazine
TAKE ACTION: EMAIL CONGRESS TONIGHT
Tell the House Judiciary Committee not to adopt the Senate version.
We've supplied a special letter for this purpose: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11980321
Please post or forward this message immediately to any interested party.
Never Too Busy to Pass Special
Interest Legislation 9.28.08
As lawmakers struggled Friday to clean up the mess on Wall Street, sponsors of the Orphan Works Act passed more special interest legislation. Their bill would force copyright holders to subsidize giant copyright databases run by giant internet firms.
Like the companies now needing billion dollar bailouts, these copyright registries - which would theoretically contain the entire copyright wealth of the US - would presumably be "too big to fail." Yet it's our wealth, not theirs, the scheme would risk.
Small business owners didn't ask for this legislation. We don't want it and we don't need it. Our opposition numbers have been growing daily. So Friday, the bill's sponsors reached for the hotline.
What is Hotlining?
Critics of hotlining say "that lawmakers are essentially signing off on legislation neither they nor their staff have ever read."
"In order for a bill to be hotlined, the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader must agree to pass it by unanimous consent, without a roll-call vote. The two leaders then inform Members of this agreement using special hotlines installed in each office and give Members a specified amount of time to object - in some cases as little as 15 minutes. If no objection is registered, the bill is passed."
- Roll Call, Sept 17, 2007
In other words, a Senate bill can pass by "unanimous consent" even if some Senators don't know about it.
The Devil's Own Day
Senators Leahy and Hatch hotlined the Orphan Works Act twice last summer. Each time came at the end of a day, at the end of a week, near the end of a legislative session. Each time lawmakers were distracted by other issues and other plans. Each time artists rallied quickly and each time a Senator put a hold on the bill.
Friday the Senators found a new opportunity.
With lawmakers struggling to package a 700 billion dollar bailout to avert a worldwide economic meltdown, with the rest of the country focused on Presidential debates, with Washington in chaos and Congressional phone lines jammed, they hotlined an amended bill. On short notice, even the legislative aides we could reach by phone said they didn't have time to read it. And so, while we were rushing to get out a second email blast to artists, the bill passed by "unanimous consent" - in other words, by default.
What better way to pass a bill that was drafted in secret than to pass it while nobody's looking?
Since Friday, artists have been conducting bitter post mortems on their blogs. That's understandable, but it's not time yet.
"When Sherman arrived at Grant's headquarters later that evening, he found the general - broken sword and all - chewing on a soggy cigar in the rain, which had begun soaking the battlefield.
'Well, Grant,' Sherman said to his friend, 'we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?'
'Yes,' replied Grant, 'lick 'em tomorrow, though.'"
The Senate passed their bill Friday, but the House hasn't. There's still time to write, phone and fax your congressional representatives. Tell them not to let the House Judiciary Committee fold their bill and adopt the Senate's.
Tell Congress to protect the private property of small businesses. Lick 'em tomorrow.
- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
Quote from "The Devil's Own Day," by Christopher Allen, January 2000 America's Civil War Magazine
TAKE ACTION: EMAIL CONGRESS TONIGHT
Tell the House Judiciary Committee not to adopt the Senate version.
We've supplied a special letter for this purpose: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11980321
Please post or forward this message immediately to any interested party.
Monday, June 2, 2008
STOP! Collaborate and Listen....I'm back with a brand new addition of:
JUNE 2, 2008 An Orphan Works Update
Backers of the House version of the Orphan Works bill are now asking artists and photographers to oppose the Senate bill unless it’s amended to contain at least the “minimum provisions” that appear in the House version.
Although they don’t say so, opposing the Senate bill in this manner is a vote FOR the House bill.
We’ve been asked to explain why:
The Senate bill is similar to the bill we opposed in 2006. The House bill (H.R. 5889) is the result of a year and a half of closed door negotiations between Congress and representatives and lobbyists for special interest groups. These groups have agreed to either endorse the House bill or remain neutral to insure its passage.
The House bill endorses the concept of coerced “voluntary” registration with commercial databases and seeks to make these databases infringer-friendly.
– It would require infringers to file a simple “notice of use” before they infringe.
– It calls for an archive of the notices to be maintained by the Copyright Office or an approved third party.
Why do backers of the House bill want these databases to be infringer-friendly?
Because to thrive, commercial databases (registries) will have to do a robust business in rights-clearing and orphan certification. That means encouraging infringers to infringe.
How will these registries work? No details have been given, but experience with image banks suggests the following:
For unregistered work: infringers will use the registries to identify pictures that aren’t registered. Infringers will probably pay the registry a search fee, then use or market the “orphans” like royalty-free art.
For registered work: the registries will act as a kind of stock house: Users will go to them for one-stop shopping to clear rights to your pictures. The registry will probably charge you a commission when they do.
In other words, urging Congress to pass the House bill makes very little sense to us unless your business or organization expects to become a commercial registry. We believe the only way to oppose these bills is to oppose them both.
If you agree, now’s the time to write Congress or write again.
You can urge Congress to oppose these bills by linking here to a special letter.
Tell Your Senators and Representatives to Oppose the Orphan Works Act at:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11442621
Backers of the House version of the Orphan Works bill are now asking artists and photographers to oppose the Senate bill unless it’s amended to contain at least the “minimum provisions” that appear in the House version.
Although they don’t say so, opposing the Senate bill in this manner is a vote FOR the House bill.
We’ve been asked to explain why:
The Senate bill is similar to the bill we opposed in 2006. The House bill (H.R. 5889) is the result of a year and a half of closed door negotiations between Congress and representatives and lobbyists for special interest groups. These groups have agreed to either endorse the House bill or remain neutral to insure its passage.
The House bill endorses the concept of coerced “voluntary” registration with commercial databases and seeks to make these databases infringer-friendly.
– It would require infringers to file a simple “notice of use” before they infringe.
– It calls for an archive of the notices to be maintained by the Copyright Office or an approved third party.
Why do backers of the House bill want these databases to be infringer-friendly?
Because to thrive, commercial databases (registries) will have to do a robust business in rights-clearing and orphan certification. That means encouraging infringers to infringe.
How will these registries work? No details have been given, but experience with image banks suggests the following:
For unregistered work: infringers will use the registries to identify pictures that aren’t registered. Infringers will probably pay the registry a search fee, then use or market the “orphans” like royalty-free art.
For registered work: the registries will act as a kind of stock house: Users will go to them for one-stop shopping to clear rights to your pictures. The registry will probably charge you a commission when they do.
In other words, urging Congress to pass the House bill makes very little sense to us unless your business or organization expects to become a commercial registry. We believe the only way to oppose these bills is to oppose them both.
If you agree, now’s the time to write Congress or write again.
You can urge Congress to oppose these bills by linking here to a special letter.
Tell Your Senators and Representatives to Oppose the Orphan Works Act at:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11442621
Monday, May 19, 2008
Time For Another Round of "Comments That I Think Are Ridiculous"!
Hey readers (all two of you),
It has recently come to my attention that there are many people out there who think that the Orphan Art Bill is all fine and dandy and ONLY affects works whose authors a] have been dead for 170 years and/or b] cannot be located.
Allow me to clear something up for those who believe that that is all this bill does and believe that it is harmless.
If this bill passes, there will be registries where artists will have to register their work. Ahem, excuse me, pay to register their work and have it copyrighted. There has been no definite information given as to how many registries there will be, but it has been proposed that there will be many and they will be online, instead of one big base. Now, with that history, here is an illustration:
Say artist Jane produced 1,000 sketches, 120 preliminary planning cartoons and 8 paintings. If she wants those ideas and those pieces of her art to remain in her control and copyrighted, she will have to register every single piece. And let's say it's $5.00 to register each piece. That's $5,640 a year to have YOUR OWN WORK OWNED BY YOU . Now, if she accidentally drops that sketch carrying all her art supplies to the studio and someone working for, oh say, Camel cigarettes finds that sketch, they must then go to registries (let's say...5) and do a reasonable search (mind you, there may be many, many, many registries...so what constitutes a reasonable search, you ask? Yeah...I'm asking, too) and if they cannot find the owner, JACKPOT! It's theirs to advertise with and you have no say and no ownership of your work.
This bill does NOT protect only old works and it doesn't protect work made outside of the USA.
Also, if Jane realises what has happened, to get any retribution, she must find exactly WHO took her work and how many times and where in the whole WORLD it was used.
I don't know about you, but to me, it's pretty damn clear that this bill has some nice loopholes...don't you think?
That is why this bill is so important and if it passes...say goodbye to art as you know it.
So, comments that I think are ridiculous: Comments made by those who have NOT done their research and believe this bill is not a serious threat.
It has recently come to my attention that there are many people out there who think that the Orphan Art Bill is all fine and dandy and ONLY affects works whose authors a] have been dead for 170 years and/or b] cannot be located.
Allow me to clear something up for those who believe that that is all this bill does and believe that it is harmless.
If this bill passes, there will be registries where artists will have to register their work. Ahem, excuse me, pay to register their work and have it copyrighted. There has been no definite information given as to how many registries there will be, but it has been proposed that there will be many and they will be online, instead of one big base. Now, with that history, here is an illustration:
Say artist Jane produced 1,000 sketches, 120 preliminary planning cartoons and 8 paintings. If she wants those ideas and those pieces of her art to remain in her control and copyrighted, she will have to register every single piece. And let's say it's $5.00 to register each piece. That's $5,640 a year to have YOUR OWN WORK OWNED BY YOU . Now, if she accidentally drops that sketch carrying all her art supplies to the studio and someone working for, oh say, Camel cigarettes finds that sketch, they must then go to registries (let's say...5) and do a reasonable search (mind you, there may be many, many, many registries...so what constitutes a reasonable search, you ask? Yeah...I'm asking, too) and if they cannot find the owner, JACKPOT! It's theirs to advertise with and you have no say and no ownership of your work.
This bill does NOT protect only old works and it doesn't protect work made outside of the USA.
Also, if Jane realises what has happened, to get any retribution, she must find exactly WHO took her work and how many times and where in the whole WORLD it was used.
I don't know about you, but to me, it's pretty damn clear that this bill has some nice loopholes...don't you think?
That is why this bill is so important and if it passes...say goodbye to art as you know it.
So, comments that I think are ridiculous: Comments made by those who have NOT done their research and believe this bill is not a serious threat.
ATTENTION READERS!
HEY READERS! Sorry for the short absence on my part: finals and graduation of my boyfriend! Anyway, here is some EXTREMELY IMPORTANT NEWS AND WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET!
"Call to Action
Last Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed their Orphan Works Act.
It is now headed for the full Senate.
If you’ve written before, now’s the time to write again.
Urge your senator to oppose this bill."
WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS BILL! EVERYBODY WRITE TO OUR SENATORS! It's super easy. You just enter your zip code and your senators come up and then there's prewritten letter AND a space for you to add your own CONCERNS AND DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!! Please, I'll say it again, if I haven't said it enough. If this bill gets passed, the art world will be fucked. And that affects EVERYONE.
"Because it has been negotiated behind closed doors, introduced on short notice and fast-tracked for imminent passage without open hearings, ask that this bill not be passed until it can be exposed to an open, informed and transparent public debate.
We’ve drafted a special letter for this purpose.
You can deep link to it here:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11389061
Contact your Senator in opposition to S.2913 NOW
The House Judiciary Committee is considering H.R. 5889, the companion bill now. Please write them again:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11389081
Contact your Congressman in opposition to H.R. 5889 NOW
2 minutes is all it takes to write your senator and representatives and fight for your copyrights. Over 68,000 e-mail messages have been sent so far.
Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work
Please forward this message to every artist you know."
THIS BILL LEGALIZES STEALING. WE MUST STOP IT.
"Call to Action
Last Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed their Orphan Works Act.
It is now headed for the full Senate.
If you’ve written before, now’s the time to write again.
Urge your senator to oppose this bill."
WE'VE GOT TO STOP THIS BILL! EVERYBODY WRITE TO OUR SENATORS! It's super easy. You just enter your zip code and your senators come up and then there's prewritten letter AND a space for you to add your own CONCERNS AND DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!! Please, I'll say it again, if I haven't said it enough. If this bill gets passed, the art world will be fucked. And that affects EVERYONE.
"Because it has been negotiated behind closed doors, introduced on short notice and fast-tracked for imminent passage without open hearings, ask that this bill not be passed until it can be exposed to an open, informed and transparent public debate.
We’ve drafted a special letter for this purpose.
You can deep link to it here:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11389061
Contact your Senator in opposition to S.2913 NOW
The House Judiciary Committee is considering H.R. 5889, the companion bill now. Please write them again:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11389081
Contact your Congressman in opposition to H.R. 5889 NOW
2 minutes is all it takes to write your senator and representatives and fight for your copyrights. Over 68,000 e-mail messages have been sent so far.
Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work
Please forward this message to every artist you know."
THIS BILL LEGALIZES STEALING. WE MUST STOP IT.
Monday, May 12, 2008
This One's Important!
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP
Some backers of the controversial Orphan Works bill say they’re launching a campaign to “Rescue Orphan Works.”
From whom?
We’re not the ones interested in infringing other people’s copyrights.
We’re only interested in protecting our own.
If the “Rescue Orphan Works” folks really want to use only true orphaned work, they’d join us in asking that this bill be drafted accordingly.
From our written statement submitted to the Senate April 30, 2008 http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs
We believe the orphan works problem can be and should be solved with carefully crafted, specific limited exemptions.
• An exemption could be tailored to solve family photo restoration and reproduction issues.
• Usage for genealogy research is probably already covered by fair use, but could rate an exemption if deemed necessary.
• Limited exemptions could be designed for documentary filmmakers.
• Libraries and archives already have generous exemptions for their missions. However, if they believe they need expanded access to work whose authors are hard to find, we’d suggest that Congress adopt a variant of the Orphan Works clearance system in use in Canada.
Canada has created a statutory licensing scheme that allows licenses for the use of published works to be issued by the Copyright Board of Canada on behalf of unlocatable copyright owners.
The license is issued by the Canadian Copyright Board. Decisions are made on a case-by- case basis through application to the Board. If the Board is satisfied by the applicant’s efforts of e-mails, phone calls, written correspondence, approaches to copyright collectives, Internet searches, etc., then it may issue a non-exclusive license which is valid only in Canada, subject to any terms and conditions it sees fit.
http://www.library.yale.edu/~llicense/ListArchives/0507/msg00096.html
A system such as this would serve potential users of orphaned work by allowing them to clear rights in an orderly, verified way. Therefore we respectfully ask that the Senate conduct further hearings to resolve the specific problem of providing public access to true orphaned works. Our objections to S.2913 – which incorporates the proposals made by the Copyright Office – is that its effects cannot be limited to old or abandoned copyrights.
There’s no need to “rescue orphan works” from artists.
And you don’t save orphans by making new ones!
Help solve the real orphan works problem: Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work
2 minutes is all it takes to write Congress and protect your copyright:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Please forward this message to every artist you know.
Some backers of the controversial Orphan Works bill say they’re launching a campaign to “Rescue Orphan Works.”
From whom?
We’re not the ones interested in infringing other people’s copyrights.
We’re only interested in protecting our own.
If the “Rescue Orphan Works” folks really want to use only true orphaned work, they’d join us in asking that this bill be drafted accordingly.
From our written statement submitted to the Senate April 30, 2008 http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs
We believe the orphan works problem can be and should be solved with carefully crafted, specific limited exemptions.
• An exemption could be tailored to solve family photo restoration and reproduction issues.
• Usage for genealogy research is probably already covered by fair use, but could rate an exemption if deemed necessary.
• Limited exemptions could be designed for documentary filmmakers.
• Libraries and archives already have generous exemptions for their missions. However, if they believe they need expanded access to work whose authors are hard to find, we’d suggest that Congress adopt a variant of the Orphan Works clearance system in use in Canada.
Canada has created a statutory licensing scheme that allows licenses for the use of published works to be issued by the Copyright Board of Canada on behalf of unlocatable copyright owners.
The license is issued by the Canadian Copyright Board. Decisions are made on a case-by- case basis through application to the Board. If the Board is satisfied by the applicant’s efforts of e-mails, phone calls, written correspondence, approaches to copyright collectives, Internet searches, etc., then it may issue a non-exclusive license which is valid only in Canada, subject to any terms and conditions it sees fit.
http://www.library.yale.edu/~llicense/ListArchives/0507/msg00096.html
A system such as this would serve potential users of orphaned work by allowing them to clear rights in an orderly, verified way. Therefore we respectfully ask that the Senate conduct further hearings to resolve the specific problem of providing public access to true orphaned works. Our objections to S.2913 – which incorporates the proposals made by the Copyright Office – is that its effects cannot be limited to old or abandoned copyrights.
There’s no need to “rescue orphan works” from artists.
And you don’t save orphans by making new ones!
Help solve the real orphan works problem: Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work
2 minutes is all it takes to write Congress and protect your copyright:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Please forward this message to every artist you know.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Update on Orphan Works Act
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP
Since yesterday, over 31, 000 letters have gone out from our Orphan Works advocacy site.
Q: What can we do next?
1. Write the House Judiciary Committee. We’ve set up a special alert to contact members of this important committee.
Go to our Take Action/Alert site: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Look for the sample letter labeled "Contact House Judiciary Committee NOW" and send it.
If your Representative is not a member of the House Judiciary Committee, this will send him a message asking him to contact his colleagues on that Committee on your behalf, urging them to oppose the bill.
2. Ask for support from family and friends:
Please ask your friends and family (5 to 10 others) who support your creative work to also go to the site.
They can follow the instructions to easily send a message of opposition to this reckless bill.
Look for the sample letter labeled "For Supporters of Visual Artists - Wrong to Weaken
Copyright Law" and send it.
3. Spread the word to the public: Photosharing on Web will now be at risk:
Please alert your friends who post photos to the web their personal property will be at risk.
Look for the sample letter labeled “For the Image-Making Public - Protect Personal
Property”and send it.
For more information about the Orphan Works Act of 2008:
IPA Statement to House Subcommittee March 20, 2008:
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00261
IPA Senate Mark-up Comments April 30, 2008: http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs
Geneva/ May 7, 2008 Orphan Works Bill Catches Global Attention/ Intellectual Property Watch/
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1028
MP3 Interview: http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html
YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqBZd0cP5Yc
Since yesterday, over 31, 000 letters have gone out from our Orphan Works advocacy site.
Q: What can we do next?
1. Write the House Judiciary Committee. We’ve set up a special alert to contact members of this important committee.
Go to our Take Action/Alert site: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Look for the sample letter labeled "Contact House Judiciary Committee NOW" and send it.
If your Representative is not a member of the House Judiciary Committee, this will send him a message asking him to contact his colleagues on that Committee on your behalf, urging them to oppose the bill.
2. Ask for support from family and friends:
Please ask your friends and family (5 to 10 others) who support your creative work to also go to the site.
They can follow the instructions to easily send a message of opposition to this reckless bill.
Look for the sample letter labeled "For Supporters of Visual Artists - Wrong to Weaken
Copyright Law" and send it.
3. Spread the word to the public: Photosharing on Web will now be at risk:
Please alert your friends who post photos to the web their personal property will be at risk.
Look for the sample letter labeled “For the Image-Making Public - Protect Personal
Property”and send it.
For more information about the Orphan Works Act of 2008:
IPA Statement to House Subcommittee March 20, 2008:
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00261
IPA Senate Mark-up Comments April 30, 2008: http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs
Geneva/ May 7, 2008 Orphan Works Bill Catches Global Attention/ Intellectual Property Watch/
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1028
MP3 Interview: http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html
YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqBZd0cP5Yc
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Send a Letter of NO SUPPORT!
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP
Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Our Work
"We’ve set up an online site for visual artists to e-mail their Senators and Representatives with one click.
This site is open to professional artists, photographers and any member of the image-making public.
We’ve provided sample letters from individuals representing different sectors of the visual arts.
If you’re opposed to the Orphan Works act, this site is yours to use.
For international artists and our colleagues overseas, we’ve provided a special link, with a sample letter and instructions as to whom to write.
2 minutes is all it takes to write Congress and protect your copyright:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Please forward this message to every artist you know."
If you wish to be added to their mailing list, email the at: illustratorspartnership@cnymail.com
Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Our Work
"We’ve set up an online site for visual artists to e-mail their Senators and Representatives with one click.
This site is open to professional artists, photographers and any member of the image-making public.
We’ve provided sample letters from individuals representing different sectors of the visual arts.
If you’re opposed to the Orphan Works act, this site is yours to use.
For international artists and our colleagues overseas, we’ve provided a special link, with a sample letter and instructions as to whom to write.
2 minutes is all it takes to write Congress and protect your copyright:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
Please forward this message to every artist you know."
If you wish to be added to their mailing list, email the at: illustratorspartnership@cnymail.com
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Orphaned Art Bill Meeting in NYC
I just received this email:
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP
A Reminder:
Tonight, Tuesday, May 6 at 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (U.S.)
Don’t Let Congress Orphan Your Work
An open forum to oppose the Orphan Works Act
The Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street
New York, NY 10065
Admission will be free
Panelists:
Terry Brown Director, American Society of Illustrators Partnership, Director Emeritus, Society of Illustrators
Constance Evans Executive Director, Advertising Photographers of America, artist
Dr. Theodore Feder President, Artists Rights Society
Brad Holland Artist, Co-founder, Illustrators Partnership
Cynthia Turner Medical illustrator, Board Member, Illustrators Partnership
William Vasquez Photographer, Co-Chair, Advertising Photographers of America/NY Chapter
This event will be streamed live here: http://video.cmitnyc.com/society/soi_2008_05_06.html
If you unable to access it tonight, it will be archived for delayed webcast, starting tomorrow
Also: stay tuned for a link to our push-button letter-writing website: Take Action/ Write Congress
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP
A Reminder:
Tonight, Tuesday, May 6 at 6:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time (U.S.)
Don’t Let Congress Orphan Your Work
An open forum to oppose the Orphan Works Act
The Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street
New York, NY 10065
Admission will be free
Panelists:
Terry Brown Director, American Society of Illustrators Partnership, Director Emeritus, Society of Illustrators
Constance Evans Executive Director, Advertising Photographers of America, artist
Dr. Theodore Feder President, Artists Rights Society
Brad Holland Artist, Co-founder, Illustrators Partnership
Cynthia Turner Medical illustrator, Board Member, Illustrators Partnership
William Vasquez Photographer, Co-Chair, Advertising Photographers of America/NY Chapter
This event will be streamed live here: http://video.cmitnyc.com/society/soi_2008_05_06.html
If you unable to access it tonight, it will be archived for delayed webcast, starting tomorrow
Also: stay tuned for a link to our push-button letter-writing website: Take Action/ Write Congress
Friday, May 2, 2008
Orphaned Art Bill
First order of business: To all artists,
And to all those who appreciate the arts and support artists may they be graphic designers, painters, photographers, sketchers, knitters, scuptors, what have you.
And to all those who care about copyright laws, your work being stolen or your creative rights, please go to this link and read this article:
Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art
I highly recommend listening to the phone call interview with Brad Holland at the end of the article. It’s about 45 minutes (or so long), but well worth it. Holland explains exactly what this bill is trying to do and the loopholes that it is quietly slipping through. This bill is a REAL possibility, unfortunately, and as Simon says, this bill is counting on apathy from the art community. We cannot allow this bill to pass, so get out of your studio, put on some sunscreen and shades and get the word out.
Help protect international copyright laws and let us make the US obey them. Or the world of art as we know it will parish. In VERY short, this bill privatizes creativity–I didn’t think it was possible, either, but it is in this country, apparently. Oh, and everyone outside the US–your art is at risk as well. If this bill passes, there will be: No more googling your favourite artist. No more finding out the lastest in the contemporary art world. No more, no more, no more. No more posting your art ANYWHERE in ANY WAY. No more sharing.
PLEASE go to that link, I beg you and get on that mailing list so that we can stop these people from ruining the art world as we know it.
Thank you.
And to all those who appreciate the arts and support artists may they be graphic designers, painters, photographers, sketchers, knitters, scuptors, what have you.
And to all those who care about copyright laws, your work being stolen or your creative rights, please go to this link and read this article:
Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art
I highly recommend listening to the phone call interview with Brad Holland at the end of the article. It’s about 45 minutes (or so long), but well worth it. Holland explains exactly what this bill is trying to do and the loopholes that it is quietly slipping through. This bill is a REAL possibility, unfortunately, and as Simon says, this bill is counting on apathy from the art community. We cannot allow this bill to pass, so get out of your studio, put on some sunscreen and shades and get the word out.
Help protect international copyright laws and let us make the US obey them. Or the world of art as we know it will parish. In VERY short, this bill privatizes creativity–I didn’t think it was possible, either, but it is in this country, apparently. Oh, and everyone outside the US–your art is at risk as well. If this bill passes, there will be: No more googling your favourite artist. No more finding out the lastest in the contemporary art world. No more, no more, no more. No more posting your art ANYWHERE in ANY WAY. No more sharing.
PLEASE go to that link, I beg you and get on that mailing list so that we can stop these people from ruining the art world as we know it.
Thank you.
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