Orphan Works Act and WHAT YOU CAN DO!!
The Orphan Works Act is under consideration again and as artists and supporters of artists, I hope you will respond!!  From different artists’ groups, we have heard that the new draft of Orphan Works Act of 2008 is going to be released next week.  Artists and supporters who have seen it are horrified. Quote from the Illustrators’ Partnership “If these proposals are enacted into law, all the work you have ever done or will do could be orphaned and exposed to commercial infringement from the moment you create it. “ At least 12 artists groups are working together to help get the word out so people can get informed and then TAKE ACTION!!!  Lots of links below to get informed and please at least sign the petition.  Anyone anywhere in the world can sign.
Terrain, Digital © Diane Clancy
Again, quoting from the Illustrators’ Partnership, “ forget the spin you’
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ve heard from backers of this bill. This radical proposal, now pending before Congress, could cost you your past and future copyrights.” This includes those of you who are creating beautiful and fun works on your blogs – they can take and use them too. Â All of our work is fair game.
Here’s a link to a site where you can sign a petition against it. Why not sign and pass it on? This is so important to all of us!!! We MUST take action!  Please sign … YOU can sign – it is international.  No to Orphan Works Petition.Â
Mark Simon has a webcast interview with Brad Holland. Â Their webcast interview is here. They have given permission to for this audio file to be copied, transferred and replayed … they want this stopped!!
Again, quoting from the Illustrators’ Partnership, “for additional information about Orphan Works developments, go to the IPA Orphan Works Resource Page for Artists,  They go on to say “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.”
Here are more details about this Here is the article with the details Mark SImon and Orphan Works Act. Quoting from the article … “This is not just about professionals…it will cover amateurs, hobbyists, your grandmother’s hand made quilts…even family photos posted on the internet will be fair game to be “orphan images†and swiped up and used by companies WITHOUT YOUR OKAY.â€
These are some more details from article by Mark Simon … Quoting “Â TO ALL ARTISTS AND ALL SUPPORTERS OF CREATIVE WORK: Our work is at risk of being stolen …. legally!! Here is the article with the details Mark SImon and Orphan Works Act. Quoting from the article … “This is not just about professionals…it will cover amateurs, hobbyists, your grandmother’s hand made quilts…even family photos posted on the internet will be fair game to be “orphan images” and swiped up and used by companies WITHOUT YOUR OKAY.”
If you want more synopsis from a post on my blog, it is here. Â I hope you will take this seriously. Â I bet we can stop this if we all work together. Â You have my permission to use my wording if it is useful to you … to pass along.
Sue O’Kieffe, thank you for the link to that audio recording recourse also. Â I really appreciate that you let me know! Â Just to let you know, I walked all the way around the block today … definitely progress! Â Thank you!!
~ Diane Clancy
Technorati Tags: Orphan Works Act, Orphan Works Act of 2008, orphan images
I will certainly sign this petition as I have seen some lovely works during the course of blogging and it is not fair that other people could be stealing them and using them to make money.
I have thought about this sort of thing when going on You Tube. There are whole clips of films and TV shows which I have watched on You Tube, which meant that I had no need to go out and actually buy the film, thereby depriving the creators of their dues, I suppose. I am quite into Ricky Gervais ‘Extras’, very funny, and have probably seen virtually the whole series on You Tube, without having to buy it, so I can hardly talk!
I think it would be very difficult to police this sort of thing as the internet is so complex and far reaching but I will certainly sign the petition.
I am sorry, Diane, my cup runneth over at the moment with my own troubles and I can’t seem to get my mind wrapped around it. I am sure this is very important and I hope it receives all the support it needs.
I just want to say hi! because I have not been around for a while and I hope you are doing well. I like your digital image and I have been playing around myself some too.
Big hug,
xox
Irene
It certainly is a very complex issue, I also watch all sorts of stuff on You Tube and am so glad to find old video and film of the people I like – but true that they are, as a result, not getting any profit from my interest.
In some cases, like multi-millionaire singers and artists, i feel – so what? I wouldn’t be buying their stuff anyway, so no loss, but then again, for people who want to make their living that way this is dreadful.
My problem is I have double standards, i guess. I object to large companies stealing images to use for their own purposes when they could so easily afford to pay the artist – yet I feel a lot of art is over-priced for the ordinary person and I want everyone to be able to have access to art. Getting coverage on the net does also help artists to get known and may help their careers… so it is all very muddled in my head.
I think the core issue here though is that companies are using stolen material to make a profit and to save themselves money and may also be putting people who work in commercial art and the advertising industry out of work.
Enough of my confused ranting. So glad you are getting stronger by the day and love that artwork. Keep on keeping on.
I signed the petition! I am signer#6708
This is very serious…I think I am developping a new phobia!! Seriously, I will explore it…Would you mind if I post about it too? HugsXXXXXX Neda
This is outrageous! I work MY fingers to the bone to make my art. The LAST thing I want is for someone else to profit from it without me in the equation. I’m going to go and sign the petition and link to it in my blog. Thank you, Diane, for posting this!
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