Pi sadly reports the Senate version of Orphan Works 2008 passed tonight by unanimous consent. There was no debate on the floor, scant public notice, and, by a last second maneuver, secretly passed without any vote, ignored by inaction and under cover of the frantic activity surrounding the tenuous state of U.S. economy. Despite huge and broad public outcry, the Senate ignored small business people and fell in step with corporate greed in one of the biggest rights hijackings in our lifetimes, a result sure to create a massive transfer of wealth from independent artists to corporate balance sheets - welfare for multi-billion dollar corporations. The Senate Orphan Works bill would never have survived a real debate. It had to pass behind the back and under the table, with stealth, like a cancer. Let the bell toll slowly for democracy, 2008.
You still have an opportunity to limit the damage, just barely. Please act NOW, for your own sake. Ask your Representative not to adopt the Senate version of Orphan Works, and NOT to pass the House's version of Orphan Works, effectively killing Orphan Works for this legislative session. Please see below.
FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP Orphan Works: Risking Our Nation's Copyright WealthThe Senate has just passed their version of the Orphan Works BillNow we must try to stop the House Judiciary Committee from folding their bill and adopting the Senate version.
We've supplied a special letter for this purpose.
PLEASE EMAIL CONGRESS TONIGHT.USE THIS LINK
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11980321
-Brad Holland and Cynthia Turner, for the Board of the Illustrators' Partnership
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For ongoing developments, go to the Illustrators' Partnership Orphan Works blog: http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/
Over 70 organizations are united in opposing this bill in its current form. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, songwriters, musicians, and countless licensing firms all believe this bill will harm their small businesses.
The Capwiz site is open to professional creators and any member of the image-making public. Sample letters have been provided. International artists will find a special link, with a sample letter and instructions as to whom to write.
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Please post or forward this message in its entirety to any interested party.
Here is a sample letter you can use. You'll also find it at the Capwiz link above: Dear Representative
As a constituent and a small business owner, I AM STRONGLY OPPOSED TO THE ORPHAN WORKS ACT OF 2008 (H.R. 5889). The Senate has just passed their version of this legislation by hotline: The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act (S 2913). I am deeply concerned that the House Judiciary Committee might adopt the Senate version. PLEASE DO NOT LET THAT HAPPEN.
WITH THE MELTDOWN ON WALL STREET, I DO NOT THINK IT’S WISE FOR CONGRESS TO CONCENTRATE OUR NATION’S COPYRIGHT WEALTH IN THE HANDS OF A FEW PRIVATELY OWNED CORPORATE DATABASES. The contents of these databases would be more valuable than secure banking information. Yet this bill would compel me to risk my life’s work to subsidize their start-up. That means it would be my assets at risk in the event of their failure or mismanagement.
This bill would socialize the expense of copyright protection while privatizing the profit of creative endeavors. Copyright owners neither want nor need this legislation. It will do great harm to small businesses. We already have a banking crisis. Let’s not create a copyright crisis. PLEASE DO NOT LET THE HOUSE ADOPT THE SENATE VERSION OF THIS BILL.
Sincerely,
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