Orphan Works: Proposed Legislation Adversely Affecting Artists' Copyrights Just Won't Die

I read this post over on the SCBWI board today and it pretty much states what I'm thinking, too:

"I've been contacting my representatives all week -- I hope they're not sick of hearing from me yet.

I find it especially disturbing the way this is being done.

First it was "hotlined" on Friday evening and passed in the Senate.

Next, first thing Tuesday morning a statement was issued to Wired magazine online by a lobbyist that the bill was dead for this legislative session. That article quickly spread around the blogosphere and a collective sigh was heard. Not that I'm big into conspiracy theories but I do have to wonder exactly who's side that lobbyist was working for.

The IPA was an organization that did not take the bait and continued to urge action on the part of independent creatives.

Now the vote is being cast just as the first VP debate is going on.

This legislation, as currently written, has always been and continues to be a sledgehammer approach to a problem that requires a scalpel solution."

And then received another email today from the Illustrators' Partnership of America that's definitely worth sharing:

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP

Orphan Works: "We Are Our Work" Voices from the SBA Roundtable 10.3.08 Tell Congress that corporation lobbyists don't speak for us. Here's where they can go to hear the real voices of artists. "I fought for the rights of Superman's creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster. Others made millions while Superman's creators lived in near poverty. Jerry was a clerk and Joe was a legally blind man who lived in his brother's apartment, slept on a cot and worked as a messenger. "I met and fought for their small remaining rights when they both turned only 60 years old...The battle took months and the settlement was meager, but it let the men live the remaining years of their lives with dignity. "You know what they cared about most? They cared about having their names once again associated with their character, Superman! Why? Because it was what they were as people. They were their work. Why do we have copyright law? Because we wish to protect people and their creations, even if they are 'hard to locate.'" --"Orphaned Works Legislation," by Neal Adams, Artist For this and more written statements you can use as talking points Go to: Orphan Works: "We Are Our Work": http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/2008/10/orphan-works-we-are-our-work.html The SBA Roundtable is the only forum so far conducted by the government to consider the economic impact of the Orphan Works Act on creators. These are the real voices of the creative community. Tell Congress not to accept substitutes! - Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership Please post or forward this message immediately to any interested party. _______________________________________________________________ For news and information: Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works Blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/ Over 75 organizations oppose this bill, representing over half a million creators. U.S. Creators and the image-making public can email Congress through the Capwiz site: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/ 2 minutes is all it takes to tell the U.S. Congress to uphold copyright protection for the world's artists. INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS please fax these 4 U.S. State Agencies and appeal to your home representatives for intervention. http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00267 CALL CONGRESS: 1-800-828-0498. Tell the U.S. Capitol Switchboard Operator "I would like to leave a message for Congressperson __________ that I oppose the Orphan Works Act." The switchboard operator will patch you through to the lawmaker's office and often take a message which also gets passed on to the lawmaker. Once you're put through tell your Representative the message again. If you received our mail as a forwarded message, and wish to be added to our mailing list, email us at: illustratorspartnership@cnymail.com Place "Add Name" in the subject line, and provide your name and the email address you want used in the message area. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.

STOP THE U.S. ORPHAN WORKS ACT NOW.