EMAIL Today: COPYRIGHT COMMENT Issues!!!

This is a matter of great importance to photographers, illustrators and art-makers of any type. Writers should also take note.

TODAY March 24th @ 5PM is the deadline to let the White House hear your comments about copyright. Anti-copyright sentiment is rising. To preserve your rights, send an e-mail ASAP.
A more extensive summary of rights grab (including a one-click email process) is on the

Illustrators Partnership Orphan Works Blog
http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/

BUT THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ORPHAN WORKS. THE GOVERNMENT IS LOOKING FOR YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND YOUR COMMENTS.


Below is the email I have written to Victoria Espinel U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) who has called for comments. Any of you are welcome to copy and adapt my letter. Just get it in before 5pm today!!!!! (I don't know if that's EDT or PDT... just do it!). Email comments to intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov


intellectualproperty@omb.eop.gov

To Victoria Espinel U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) and others discussing Copyright protection in current times:

I am writing this letter to specifically address upcoming copyright legislation, primarily to oppose any current attempts at this legislation, especially in the areas of rights grab, including orphan works.

My background is as an intellectual property attorney (retired), a published author/editor and as a professional fine art exhibiting photographer.

As someone whose very incentive is to produce creative work and be supported by it, visual or literary, recent attempts to control this fail not only in their scope but in the manner in which they could be enforced. At present, there is no way in which a work could be "orphaned" without a trampling on the rights of the creator. It is too easy, given the fast rise of technology, to separate a work from information about its creator, giving rise to many enterprises to claim the work is "orphaned." This is a direct infringement of copyright.

Protection of creators' rights is the very reason for the creation of the Copyright Act. The recent attempts to amend the Act are in direct contravention of the US and other countries' policies and would not only create dire intellectual and economic consequences for the creator but for the economy as a whole that profits from new work. Without a protection from outright theft, the inevitable consequence of present legislative proposals, it would be difficult for artists to find ways to support themselves with their production. Without that production or even with the limited production that some may venture, far less than now, our society suffers in many ways, from critical thinking to a loss of opportunities for change, always the result of artistic endeavors.

Our world and market opportunities are changing so vastly that any legislation of this type is premature with dire economic and social consequences for a future world that none of us can fortell.

At the same time, it is true that issues pertaining to copyright should be addressed. Among those issues and suggestions may be the establishment through the Copyright Office of at least a registry for photographers and other image makers of their work in addition to copyright registration. Or, attempts to work with creators to establish one central such registry.

I urge to you to investigate strategies that would create solid lasting protection for creators and for the good of the country.

Sara Jane Boyers