Orphaned Works legistlation. Artists and producers, read to save your work!

This was just brought to my attention by a group of people I'm associated with that support art in all it's forms. There is a bit of legislation in front of Congress right now called the Orphaned Works legislation. On the surface, the law will read that places like libraries and museums can protect the copyrights of long-dead artists by registering a new copyright.

However, that's only the surface.

In it's entirety, this new piece of work will allow corporations to be able to pick up ANYTHING they deem worthy of their use if it isn't registered. There will be companies that will make artists, who are often broke, pay hefty fees for them to register every single photo, drawing, sculpture, or even written works, to keep it theirs.

What's the big deal? Think about it...you have a piece of unregistered work you think would be worth a few thousand on the art circuit. A company sees it, registers it...and now you're out a few thousand bucks and lost your work.

If you want to read more about this, and how you can keep it from happening, visit here: http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3605

Or here: http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html

I know there's a great deal of artists here who actively work to sell what they create, or do what they do to show off their talent and aren't worried about the money. However, it could, very soon, become illegal for you to call something you spent hours making "yours" if some company buys what you made.

Wow this really sucks. Thanks for the heads up cloudgazer2K.

I'm pretty sure i'd never have to worry about anything like this with anything of mine but it's still scary. Imagine someone gaining rights to something someone else has invested their true time and passion in! Like the artist doesn't have a hard enough time these days as it it.

Saeria said:

I'm pretty sure i'd never have to worry about anything like this with anything of mine but it's still scary. Imagine someone gaining rights to something someone else has invested their true time and passion in! Like the artist doesn't have a hard enough time these days as it it.

Click to expand...

Exactly Saeria. Takes a long time for an artist to get well known enough to where people want to hire them or purchase their works.

Thanks, CG. Contacting my politicians now. This is the sort of crap that would make me actively organize campaigns against someone.

Just contacted my congressional represenative and made him aware of my feelings on the bill. 😀

glad to be of service.

Mods, please note: i didn't post this in P&R for the specific reason that there are fewer active members that post there. i feel this is a more general matter that affects all creative people , and therefore shouldn't be confined to such a (in a manner of speaking) unpopular subforum.

as of now, i've gotten the word out to several people, and recently got some info back about the whens and hows. i'm hoping that, in time, such a large number of artistic individuals protesting this legislation will either A: make it go away or B: it gets reworked so that the common, starving artist isn't screwed.

Does this bill have a number? It helps a lot when talking to congressional represenatives and such if you know the bills number. I searched for it myself but could not find it. Thanks again cloudgazer2k.

kurchatovium said:

Does this bill have a number? It helps a lot when talking to congressional represenatives and such if you know the bills number. I searched for it myself but could not find it. Thanks again cloudgazer2k.

Click to expand...

haven't had any luck, so far. here's some more info: http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat031308.html

cloudgazer2k said:

haven't had any luck, so far. here's some more info: http://www.copyright.gov/docs/regstat031308.html

Click to expand...

My congressional represenative found a bill HR5439 having to do with Orphan Works that was introduced in 2006. I was not sure if that was the bill in question as it was over 2 years ago. I did let him know my feelings about the issue though and so hopefully he will vote no on any such bills that arise.

kurchatovium said:

My congressional represenative found a bill HR5439 having to do with Orphan Works that was introduced in 2006. I was not sure if that was the bill in question as it was over 2 years ago. I did let him know my feelings about the issue though and so hopefully he will vote no on any such bills that arise.

Click to expand...

the provided link was a speech made earlier this year, but the people i've been talking with lately now says "Well, it's no big deal, now.". THAT frustrates the hell outta me. just 24 hours ago, a good number of the artistic community was up in arms...now it's nothing to be worried about?

well, old issue or not, it's still worth looking into, in my opinion.

cloudgazer2k said:

the provided link was a speech made earlier this year, but the people i've been talking with lately now says "Well, it's no big deal, now.". THAT frustrates the hell outta me. just 24 hours ago, a good number of the artistic community was up in arms...now it's nothing to be worried about?

well, old issue or not, it's still worth looking into, in my opinion.

Click to expand...

I agree. We cant really afford apathy at this point. If a bill like this sneaks through it would be disatrous for all artists.