Picture North Carolina
18th of June 2009 (Thu), 06:44
Just an FYI. Received this email this morning:
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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:
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/06/11/copyright-holders-acknowledge-losing-battle-for-public-consciousness-at-world-copyright-summit/ (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qSEj7HbWSirGJk3TyPPz77DaAdvv-R944zPqMIYzz4P-SL5E3XHe2Pa9OeC-Ug3qp7MYkON-VUErLPy2MDMW4nBR8IWEcDKbHa1SvPEqxQBacDBfbp1IyWNlUO gS3EDl-ynF2j5QPkBzzCDteqKa0HxSGhhk4qPFO3DhwtOwvXyJA7zs85_ qESJP7ly-spzgaLMKiOeKnfTpUt3XxYX1ZuXga9HZ426GV5vmjM35Wa2Xb6 txLoiSnQTyNtV-iiNMbQrFPBuAEo_Tw==)
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 don't mean to disparage the Register's comments. She's had a long and distinguished career at the Copyright Office. But her statement deserves a reality check. Illustrators are not opposed to an orphan works bill. We're opposed to this bill.
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 (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qRa9B2g2IQ3Y8MrrQB0C_cfoUI4ZclR10l42 yVyZOtuyePpiAA-H734roKmEvR0eKyF3Ps8sIEHsqazVbEv3G74TLiLxdxwyNrNbE SdACgoa_R3iBFOtnpu4aP_IdrrSXC8TknZU2VyBmPzR9S84MSV 7CSsD03OOTt7-Txiklq9Tiv6TQbvwvi7) 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 (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qQSZ4ArcRqv8GJKuPwhCIOXs_KB7NvdGexC3 Xi2BgTZvljH2x7VnYWOxIlPi0u6vXMcfFoz1ey1oANQSuvJ1Hd aIyMeHVxkT2Ijeni_3GgP4AGyDhKTNWqZeADho9tN7LtTfLl9U wv5hDy__vM_9stCVDuqJlp0g4w=)
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.
Last year more than 180,000 letters were sent to lawmakers from our Capwiz site. These letters did not come from obstructionists. They came from citizens whose property is at stake. They may lack the resources of big Internet companies and the access of high powered lobbyists, but last year they spoke. They asked only one thing: that Congress respect their personal property rights and amend this bill to make it nothing more than what its sponsors say they want it to be - a bill that would affect only true orphaned work.
We urge this Congress to listen.
- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
__________________________________________________ ____________
For news and information, and an archive of these messages:
Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works Blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/ (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qQSXuXUjcuJE08dXNxNXl0HuK5em5673-RnMAvMrBHIieQXESpSG8K9rLv09TcAr_a89uKoRMhIyzL0t-AEhSD7p1IQzZPoO94vhXnQTqZvrzH4GIfWrKNE)
Over 83 organizations (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qRa9B2g2IQ3Y8MrrQB0C_cfoUI4ZclR10l42 yVyZOtuyePpiAA-H734roKmEvR0eKyF3Ps8sIEHsqazVbEv3G74TLiLxdxwyNrNbE SdACgoa_R3iBFOtnpu4aP_IdrrSXC8TknZU2VyBmPzR9S84MSV 7CSsD03OOTt7-Txiklq9Tiv6TQbvwvi7) 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.
Please post or forward this message to any interested party.
----------------------------------------------
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:
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2009/06/11/copyright-holders-acknowledge-losing-battle-for-public-consciousness-at-world-copyright-summit/ (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qSEj7HbWSirGJk3TyPPz77DaAdvv-R944zPqMIYzz4P-SL5E3XHe2Pa9OeC-Ug3qp7MYkON-VUErLPy2MDMW4nBR8IWEcDKbHa1SvPEqxQBacDBfbp1IyWNlUO gS3EDl-ynF2j5QPkBzzCDteqKa0HxSGhhk4qPFO3DhwtOwvXyJA7zs85_ qESJP7ly-spzgaLMKiOeKnfTpUt3XxYX1ZuXga9HZ426GV5vmjM35Wa2Xb6 txLoiSnQTyNtV-iiNMbQrFPBuAEo_Tw==)
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 don't mean to disparage the Register's comments. She's had a long and distinguished career at the Copyright Office. But her statement deserves a reality check. Illustrators are not opposed to an orphan works bill. We're opposed to this bill.
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 (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qRa9B2g2IQ3Y8MrrQB0C_cfoUI4ZclR10l42 yVyZOtuyePpiAA-H734roKmEvR0eKyF3Ps8sIEHsqazVbEv3G74TLiLxdxwyNrNbE SdACgoa_R3iBFOtnpu4aP_IdrrSXC8TknZU2VyBmPzR9S84MSV 7CSsD03OOTt7-Txiklq9Tiv6TQbvwvi7) 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 (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qQSZ4ArcRqv8GJKuPwhCIOXs_KB7NvdGexC3 Xi2BgTZvljH2x7VnYWOxIlPi0u6vXMcfFoz1ey1oANQSuvJ1Hd aIyMeHVxkT2Ijeni_3GgP4AGyDhKTNWqZeADho9tN7LtTfLl9U wv5hDy__vM_9stCVDuqJlp0g4w=)
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.
Last year more than 180,000 letters were sent to lawmakers from our Capwiz site. These letters did not come from obstructionists. They came from citizens whose property is at stake. They may lack the resources of big Internet companies and the access of high powered lobbyists, but last year they spoke. They asked only one thing: that Congress respect their personal property rights and amend this bill to make it nothing more than what its sponsors say they want it to be - a bill that would affect only true orphaned work.
We urge this Congress to listen.
- Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
__________________________________________________ ____________
For news and information, and an archive of these messages:
Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works Blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/ (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qQSXuXUjcuJE08dXNxNXl0HuK5em5673-RnMAvMrBHIieQXESpSG8K9rLv09TcAr_a89uKoRMhIyzL0t-AEhSD7p1IQzZPoO94vhXnQTqZvrzH4GIfWrKNE)
Over 83 organizations (http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102613406544&s=67&e=001aRO_0wC36qRa9B2g2IQ3Y8MrrQB0C_cfoUI4ZclR10l42 yVyZOtuyePpiAA-H734roKmEvR0eKyF3Ps8sIEHsqazVbEv3G74TLiLxdxwyNrNbE SdACgoa_R3iBFOtnpu4aP_IdrrSXC8TknZU2VyBmPzR9S84MSV 7CSsD03OOTt7-Txiklq9Tiv6TQbvwvi7) 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.
Please post or forward this message to any interested party.