Orphan Works 2008
Resources
What can you do?
Orphan Works legislation will impact all artists worldwide, directly or indirectly, so regardless of where you live, you should communicate your concern.
It is critical that members of both Houses of Congress who are drafting and considering this legislation hear from all of us who care about this issue. Please let them know how important this is to YOU.
Make your Voice Heard
If you're based in the U.S.
Contact your Congressional representatives.
Contact Information for Members of CongressContact House Judiciary Committee members, particularly
the Leadership and Ranking Members, and your Senators.
FAX numbers for House Judiciary Committee MembersYou can use this online resource to write to members of Congress, developed by the IPA and used by 60+ artists associations. Go to the IPA CapWiz site
Or, feel free to edit the text of this sample letter and copy it onto your letterhead.
If you're outside the U.S.
Make your concern known about the impact of this Bill on international copyright law. Use this online resource
Resources
Following are links to commentary posted by fellow associations, along with other sources, which further help explain the specifics of the current draft legislation, as well as provide a range of perspectives. We will add to this list as more resources become available.
SAA Orphan Works Page
SAA Orphan Works Blog
APA - Advertising Photographers of America - Orphan Works Page
APA 2008 Orphan Works Position Paper
IPA - Illustrators' Partnership of America - Orphan Works Page
ASMP - American Society of Media Photographers - Orphan Works Page
John Harrington's Photobusinessforum blog
Public Knowledge.com blog
Key Documents
2008 Orphan Works Bills:
House Version: H.R. 5889, Orphan Works Act of 2008
Senate Version: S.2913, Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008
Copyright Office Report on Orphan Works, Jan 2006
House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Hearing on Promoting the Use of Orphan Works : Balancing the Interests of Copyright Owners and Users, March 13, 2008
U.K. Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, Nov 2006
SAA's Orphan Works 2008 coverage was prepared by:
David Sanger, SAA Legal Chair
Betsy Reid, SAA Executive Director
