Congress is right now looking at an orphaned works bill (H.R. 5889, The Orphan Works Act of 2008). I urge you to read the bill, and do some research on it you can read the Statement of Marybeth Peters of The Register of Copyrights, and the report on Orphan Works. If you oppose it, here is an easy link to write your Representatives and Senators. It will take two minutes
Unfortunately the way this bill changes copyright law will have a profound impact on artists, designers, even your family photos will be up for grabs! Any image found anywhere without a copyright attached will essentially become part of the public domain. This will severely impact many small business, musicians, publications, hobby artists, and more. Even contents on your blog could be stolen legally if this passes.
The bill is in congress this week and I am asking you email your Senators and Representatives against its passage.
Our only power is in our numbers.
My concern is that everything from rubber stamp artists, architect blue prints, clothing designers, photographers, artists, musicians, writers, graphic designers, essentially anyone who creates anything . . .will gravely suffer if this bill is passed in it's current form.
• It fails to properly define the category of orphaned work.
• It sets the infringer's bar of due diligence so low it guarantees abuse.
• It would force into the courts countless business decisions which should be made in the marketplace.
• It creates problems which do not now exist, but which would require the expansion of the Federal judiciary system to solve.
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I found the blog of Tammy Browning Smith - a lawyer for the licensing and craft industry. You can get really informed answers from her Arts and Crafts Law Blog http://artsandcraftslaw.blogspot.com/
This is also discussed on Claudine Hellmuth's blog http://claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com/
You can visit the Care2 and ThePetitionSite and sign the "Protect your copyrights - protest the Orphan Works bill." petition
This is real, this is serious, and this is now. Please act today.
