wwp@yahoogroups.com:
Re: Coincidence: Orphan Works: A License To Infringe
G. Donald Bain 2008-Jun-16 17:02:00
Tamas,
Thank you for the alert on this important issue.
This is especially relevant to participants in the WWP and those of us
who publish on the internet. It is easy for our work (the actual
image) to be separated from its identifying data (usually an html
page) and be posted elsewhere on the internet. This could then be
perceived as an "orphan" work, or at least that excuse could be used
by the unscrupulous (or lazy). The problem is compounded if that first
generation orphan is then accessed using something like Google image
search - the connection to your copyright and contact data will be
completely broken.
I have taken the action you suggested, writing to my senators and
congressman. I urge other US citizens with an interest in on-line
media to do the same, and non-US citizens to be vigilant for similar
legislation (or administrative actions) in their area.
Don
On Jun 14, 2008, at 11:40 AM, Tamas D.Varga wrote:
> What a crazy world!
>
> The proposed Senate Bill 2913 and House of Representatives Bill 5889
> (The Orphan Works Act of 2008) allows for use of works for which the
> copyright holder can't be found and limits liability for those users
> who perform and document "a qualifying search, in good faith, for the
> owner of the infringed copyright."
>
> Uh, sounds similar? Coincidentally we have a very similar case with
> ZKM/Globorama
>
> It is an arrogant legislation that legalises theft and will affect
> artists and other creators of intellectual property everywhere,
> reducing your intellectual property rights and defying international
> understandings such as the Berne Convention.
> This will put will put thousands of artists in small businesses out of
> business.
>
> No matter if you live and work in the US, please read, think it over
> http://stevemarselphotoblog.typepad.com/steve_marsel_photo_blog/
> read the recent post as well
>
> and take action:
> http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
>
> and sign the petition online:
> http://www.petitiononline.com/Stop2913/petition.html
>
> to protect your livelyhoods!
>
> Yours,
> Tamas
> http://www.worldpanoramastock.com/
>
>
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