If you can guess that quote... I will put you on my "coolest people ever" list.
So I have some horrible news peeps. So listen up because this will effect the plummeting economy as it will seriously effect/damage all the creative arts community's businesses. The Senate passed their version of the Orphan
Works legislation by hotline yesterday (meaning by phone... the bums). While both bills would devastatethe creative arts communities, the Senate version of the bill (S 2913) is much worse for our cause than the House bill (H.R. 5889). We are
deeply concerned that the House Judiciary Committee might now abandon their version of the bill and adopt the Senate version before adjournment. We are desperately trying to reach members of Congress to implore them NOT to adopt the Senate version of the bill. Given the financial crisis our country is facing, surely this is not the time to risk our nation's intellectual property as well.
What to do?
1. First, decide to TAKE ACTION NOW...
2. If you haven't already clicked on the link to send a letter to
your representative, please do that now. USE THIS LINK
For our international artists and colleagues click this link.
3. CALL members of the Judiciary Committee (see list below) and tell them the following:
a. You oppose this controversial bill
b. This is a VOTE DECIDING ISSUE for you
c. We do not need to have a copyright crisis on top of an economic crisis
d. Ask them NOT to adopt the Senate's version of the bill
e. Ask them not to pass the House's version of the bill without a full and open hearing
4. SPREAD THE WORD- if you belong to an arts organization, please share this information with them. If you haven't yet imposed on your friends, family, neighbors and colleagues to contact their representatives, NOW is the time to ask for their help. (If you have already asked, please do it again.)
5. STAY ALERT-- Check out the Illustrators Partnership website
6. And for those of you who believe in the power of prayer... praying
couldn't hurt.
Thanks for all your efforts... together we can-and must-make a difference.
~Meridth
5 comments:
It has to be from Willie Wonka. Maybe one of the Oompaloompa's, but I don't know if I spelled that right.
It's always the art industry that gets cut. If it wasn't for creative types we wouldn't have all those number and letter symbols they're crunching right now.
Yup. So true.
ARG
How bad can these really be? S 2913 is sponsored by Patrick Leahy, a longtime Democrat. If he's for it, then I'll support it too.
Don't be so ignorant. Do you always trust what politicians do? Have you ever heard of lobbyists and ulterior motives? Just because somebody is for or against a bill doesn't mean that you shouldn't do the research to understand what the bill is all about.
I'm usually not at all political on my art blog because nice conversation and politics don't mix... but I am VERY passionate about this bill because if someone finds my work online and decides that it's been "orphaned" (which is easy to do) and sells it for 100% profit I am out of business. I can't compete against that.
There are many groups that are against this GAG, IPA and a lot of international artists that are upset because this bill negates an already existing International copyright law stating that if you didn't make it, you don't own the copyright and therefore can't sell the work.
I'm not sure what your angle is, but I implore you to read more about this bill.
Even if you aren't really interested if my business succeeds or fails, if a lot of artists out there are losing their jobs due to this bill it will affect the already fragile economy.
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