Comments on: NCS urges opposition to Orphan Works Act of 2008 http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/05/12/ncs-urges-opposition-to-orphan-works-act-of-2008/ The source for industry news for the professional cartoonist Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:09:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Jeff Stanson http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/05/12/ncs-urges-opposition-to-orphan-works-act-of-2008/#comment-73526 Jeff Stanson Tue, 13 May 2008 02:19:50 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/?p=3049#comment-73526 Copyrights should be capped at 75 years, but with a "original work intact" restriction. This would mean that revising the work in any form other than upgrading production quality is always a violation. In short, anyone could produce reprints of comics or DVDs of movies older than 75 years, and anyone can legally own them, pass them around the Internet, show them in schools, etc. However, they couldn't butcher the work for their own purposes. This means upgrading comic reprints or remastering movies would actually be of benefit to the producing. And all the while, syndicates, studios, publishers, etc., wouldn't be able to make big bucks for hundreds of years on works that were meant to provide a livelihood for the creator(s) and be enjoyed by the masses. And, it must be retroactive! Copyrights should be capped at 75 years, but with a “original work intact” restriction. This would mean that revising the work in any form other than upgrading production quality is always a violation. In short, anyone could produce reprints of comics or DVDs of movies older than 75 years, and anyone can legally own them, pass them around the Internet, show them in schools, etc. However, they couldn’t butcher the work for their own purposes. This means upgrading comic reprints or remastering movies would actually be of benefit to the producing. And all the while, syndicates, studios, publishers, etc., wouldn’t be able to make big bucks for hundreds of years on works that were meant to provide a livelihood for the creator(s) and be enjoyed by the masses. And, it must be retroactive!

]]> By: Pab Sungenis http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/05/12/ncs-urges-opposition-to-orphan-works-act-of-2008/#comment-73520 Pab Sungenis Mon, 12 May 2008 22:08:53 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/?p=3049#comment-73520 The Orphan Works bills are a joke. They'd make real copyright enforcement impossible for little guys, yet corporate behemoths (read: Disney) can still keep copyrights for nearly a century. A more effective tactic would be to go back to requiring copyrights be renewed every 15 years, for a maximum of 75. The Orphan Works bills are a joke. They’d make real copyright enforcement impossible for little guys, yet corporate behemoths (read: Disney) can still keep copyrights for nearly a century.

A more effective tactic would be to go back to requiring copyrights be renewed every 15 years, for a maximum of 75.

]]> By: Gregory Fink http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/05/12/ncs-urges-opposition-to-orphan-works-act-of-2008/#comment-73517 Gregory Fink Mon, 12 May 2008 20:56:51 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/?p=3049#comment-73517 Not to sound too foolish, but isn't this the bill that would allow things like fantagraphics excellent Krazy & Ignatz series to continue existing without paying a huge set of fees to the syndicates? Does anyone have a link to the bill or want to sum up the main points of it so I can better understand the concern of current creators in regards to their copyrights? Thanks, Greg Not to sound too foolish, but isn’t this the bill that would allow things like fantagraphics excellent Krazy & Ignatz series to continue existing without paying a huge set of fees to the syndicates? Does anyone have a link to the bill or want to sum up the main points of it so I can better understand the concern of current creators in regards to their copyrights?

Thanks,

Greg

]]> By: Ted Rall http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/05/12/ncs-urges-opposition-to-orphan-works-act-of-2008/#comment-73507 Ted Rall Mon, 12 May 2008 15:40:35 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/?p=3049#comment-73507 The Orphan Works Act is worrisome. But Randy (Hi, Randy! It's been too long, but still like your stuff!) is right: Form letters, especially form e-mails, are a gi-normous waste of time. By far the most effective means of contacting a legislator is by phone, at their office. Their aides track calls and take note of constituent feedback. Second is personal letters, printed out on paper. Third is personal e-mail, and that's a distant third. Of course, cartoonists also have the ability to discuss issues in their work. In short: Google your Congressman and Senator's office phone number and call. Then write a letter. Then draw a picture. The Orphan Works Act is worrisome. But Randy (Hi, Randy! It’s been too long, but still like your stuff!) is right: Form letters, especially form e-mails, are a gi-normous waste of time.

By far the most effective means of contacting a legislator is by phone, at their office. Their aides track calls and take note of constituent feedback. Second is personal letters, printed out on paper. Third is personal e-mail, and that’s a distant third.

Of course, cartoonists also have the ability to discuss issues in their work.

In short: Google your Congressman and Senator’s office phone number and call. Then write a letter. Then draw a picture.

]]> By: Randy Glasbergen http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2008/05/12/ncs-urges-opposition-to-orphan-works-act-of-2008/#comment-73506 Randy Glasbergen Mon, 12 May 2008 15:16:40 +0000 http://dailycartoonist.com/?p=3049#comment-73506 Thanks to the NCS for making it easy to send the form letters. I'm confident that my letter to Senator Clinton will receive the highest priority in her schedule. Hahahahahahaha Thanks to the NCS for making it easy to send the form letters. I’m confident that my letter to Senator Clinton will receive the highest priority in her schedule. Hahahahahahaha

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