The Orphan Works Bill has been introduced to congress and is being fast-tracked through. You can read about it on my site at How the Orphan Works Bill will affect creative and client, alike. If you're reading this and will be affected by it, please post a link to that page on my site:

http://rasadesign.com/orphan-works-bill.html

As a short summary, the bill allows anybody to use your work without your permission unless you've registered your work with a PRIVATE copyright registration firm (none of which exists) for a fee. Every photograph, web site design, text copy, sketch, painting, doodle, etc. that you have not paid to register will be orphaned by this summer and will be part of the 'public domain'.

Even if you do register with one registrar, somebody merely has to show that they looked through other registrars in which you are NOT registered with to prove that they did the due diligence. When you do show up and press a claim in court, you cannot ask for legal fees or expenses, but merely the 'fair' (not market) value of your work.

If you think I am kidding, think again.

Who is behind this? Google. Geddy. Corbis... all the corporations that could profit by not having to pay you for your work.

The implications are this: I can steal your web site design, register it, claim the copyright on your work, turn around and charge you for the use of your work. I can sell your photographs without your permission. I can bundle your photographs as part of a Stock Photo series without your permission.

Feel free to comment on this, link to this post, link to the web site and WRITE to your congressperson and senator. If you don't, I WILL steal your work and sell it at a profit.

Tags: copyright, orphan works, theft
Current Mood: ripshit