The Orphan Works Act of 2008 was delivered to a chaotic House of Representatives yesterday and was quickly “lost” in the House’s attempt to pass a $700 billion Wall Street bailout. According to Wired.com, lobbyists pushing for the bill concede that the House will not be able to take up the bill until after the November elections.
UPDATE: E&P talks to AAEC President Ted Rall for his reaction to the temporary death of the Orphan Works Act.
It may not be a good thing that they are able to put this very important vote off so long. It risks that the house will wait until they are safely re-elected before walking all over artists rights.
NOT DEAD YET!
Just like a monster in a bad horror movie, the Orphans Work Act refuses to die — congress is apparently moving to vote on the TONIGHT.
This is final proof this is a crap law, and that the actions are those of thiefs, not lawmakers
+JP
Here’s the message from the IPA
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP
THE HOUSE ORPHAN WORKS BILL (H.R. 5889)
IS MOVING IN THE HOUSE NOW
10.2.08
Phone, fax, email these Congressman immediately
DELAHUNT Phone (202) 225 3111 Fax (202) 225-5658
Phone: (617) 770-3700 Fax: (617) 770-2984
CONYERS Phone: (202) 225-5126 Fax: (202) 225-0072
Phone: (313) 961-5670 Fax: (313) 226-2085
NADLER Phone: (202) 225-5635 Fax: (202) 225-6923
Phone: (212) 367-7350 Fax: (212) 367-7356
BERMAN Phone: (202) 225-4695 Fax: (202) 225-3196
Phone: (818) 994-7200 Fax: (818) 994-1050
EXPRESS YOUR OUTRAGE AT THE WAY THIS IS BEING DONE
We’ve been getting assurances all day that the bill was “dead for this
year.”
TELL THEM NOT TO PASS THIS ANTI-COPYRIGHT LAW
* UNDER COVER OF NIGHT
* UNDER COVER OF ECONOMIC CRISIS
* UNDER COVER OF ANOTHER TELEVISED DEBATE
TELL THEM THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS WAY TO RE-WRITE THE COPYRIGHT LAWS OF
THE UNITED STATES
– Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators’
Partnership
Please post or forward this message immediately to any interested party.
_______________________________________________________________
For news and information:
Illustrators’ Partnership Orphan Works Blog:
http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/
Over 75 organizations
oppose this bill, representing over half a million creators.
Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and
countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small
businesses.
U.S. Creators and the image-making public can email Congress through the
Capwiz site: http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
2 minutes is all it takes to tell the U.S. Congress to uphold copyright
protection for the world’s artists.
INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS please fax these 4 U.S. State Agencies and appeal
to your home representatives for intervention.
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00267
CALL CONGRESS: 1-800-828-0498. Tell the U.S. Capitol Switchboard
Operator “I would like to leave a message for Congressperson __________
that I oppose the Orphan Works Act.” The switchboard operator will
patch you through to the lawmaker’s office and often take a message
which also gets passed on to the lawmaker. Once you’re put through tell
your Representative the message again.
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.
STOP THE U.S. ORPHAN WORKS ACT NOW.