Ban the Orphan Works Bill!
Target:
Artists and anyone who cares about their livelihood
Sponsored by:
The Orphan Works Bill is designed to benefit big corporations and legalize theft. Individual artists would have to pay to register their work at private institutions. Anything not registered would be an "orphan work" and free to use without penalty or payment.
Effectively, artists would lose any right to make money from their artwork.
We can prevent this. Ban the Orphan Works Bill!
Effectively, artists would lose any right to make money from their artwork.
We can prevent this. Ban the Orphan Works Bill!
The Orphan Works Bill is designed to benefit big corporations and legalize theft. Individual artists would have to pay to register their work at private institutions. Anything not registered would be an "orphan work" and free to use without penalty or payment.
Effectively, artists would lose any right to make money from their artwork.
We can prevent this. Ban the Orphan Works Bill!
Effectively, artists would lose any right to make money from their artwork.
We can prevent this. Ban the Orphan Works Bill!
We the undersigned
Have read about and know the intentions of the Orphan Works Bill
and
Understand that it is set only to benefit corporations and not individual artists or their livelihood
and therefore
Agree that Congress should never pass this bill or let it become law in any way, shape or form
The Orphan Works Bill (read about it here) is a bill that would make artists register all their work with a private institution for a fee, protecting already existing work but not supporting in any way any future works the artist might create. This makes it easier for large corporations to use the art and for the art to be stolen and used without the artist's permission!
This is unacceptable.
Under current law, any works an artist creates are already copyrighted to that artist. Also, an artist can sue for stolen work as well as fair value of said artwork. This is supported by international law.
The Orphan Works Bill would take away any right an artist has to get paid for his or her work.
There's a reason the phrase "starving artist" exists. Why make artists pay to register their work with a private institution and make theft easier? Currently, these private institutions are untested%u2014so if your work is registered but there's a bug in the system, all your work and money is for nothing. All it takes is for someone to claim that a work is not registered (and therefore an orphan work) and use it for free with no penalty!
Why would such a bill be written, much less passed?
To benefit corporations.
This is a travesty that must be prevented. Let the artists of the world take their future in their own hands! It's time to unite, and tell Congress that the Orphan Works Bill should never be passed!
Thank you for reading this letter. It is our hope that with enough voices saying "No", Congress will listen. We need to protect ourselves--the time to act is now. Feel free to spread the word!
Ban the Orphan Works Bill!
We signed the "Ban the Orphan Works Bill!" petition!
# 830:
5:27 pm PST, Mar 7,
Jeremy Hunter, United Kingdom
I am not American so this will not affect me directly, but as a British amateur artist this is abominable. The idea that someone can "diligently search" (with no measure, or proof of diligence) and just use an image without really looking for the original artist is just theft. I have read balanced arguments about the activity of the bill, and no matter what defence there is, it is still a very bad idea.
I am not American so this will not affect me directly, but as a British amateur artist this is abominable. The idea that someone can "diligently search" (with no measure, or proof of diligence) and just use an image without really looking for the original artist is just theft. I have read balanced arguments about the activity of the bill, and no matter what defence there is, it is still a very bad idea.
# 829:
7:58 pm PST, Mar 1,
Katelyn Moore, North Carolina
# 828:
1:27 pm PST, Feb 13,
Deborah Harris, Texas
# 827:
6:49 am PST, Jan 22,
Dina Sartini, Ohio
# 826:
10:45 am PST, Jan 16,
Sam D'Amico, Washington D.C.
# 825:
9:13 am PST, Jan 16,
Lisa Foucart, Maryland
It is hard enough to eek out any sort of living as a free lance artist! Why make it harder?
It is hard enough to eek out any sort of living as a free lance artist! Why make it harder?
# 824:
11:10 am PST, Jan 14,
Name not displayed, California
# 823:
12:30 am PST, Jan 14,
Richard Vang, North Carolina
# 822:
4:44 pm PST, Jan 11,
Christopher Martin, Louisiana
An artists work should be considered the intellectual property of that artist and no one, but that artist should be able to determine the use of that work. Nor should they be forced to pay for a registration for that work...these fee's are just another form of taxation.
An artists work should be considered the intellectual property of that artist and no one, but that artist should be able to determine the use of that work. Nor should they be forced to pay for a registration for that work...these fee's are just another form of taxation.
# 821:
2:06 pm PST, Jan 10,
Dale Gilkinson, California
Is there an artist in your life? How do you think this bill would affect them?
Is there an artist in your life? How do you think this bill would affect them?
# 820:
12:30 pm PST, Jan 10,
Denny McCarthy, California
Anyone, corporation or not has no right to anyones work of art without payment. To allow them to only make a cursory search is unfair to the creator of the work. This is nothing more than an attempt to usurp artists rights.
Anyone, corporation or not has no right to anyones work of art without payment. To allow them to only make a cursory search is unfair to the creator of the work. This is nothing more than an attempt to usurp artists rights.
# 819:
6:15 pm PST, Jan 7,
Tara Galvin, Massachusetts
# 818:
3:56 am PST, Jan 7,
Steven Springsteel, Jr, Ohio
# 817:
2:59 pm PST, Jan 6,
Joshua Calloway, Wisconsin
As a freelance artist this bill would completely hurt my chances of becoming a full fleged illustrator. The bill is bogus and only seems to help the large corporations who just want to legaly steal our work.
As a freelance artist this bill would completely hurt my chances of becoming a full fleged illustrator. The bill is bogus and only seems to help the large corporations who just want to legaly steal our work.
# 816:
1:45 pm PST, Jan 6,
Randy Primoli, Minnesota
# 815:
1:42 pm PST, Jan 6,
Ryan Frederick, Minnesota
music lover
music lover
# 814:
1:38 pm PST, Jan 6,
Justin Barts, Wisconsin
I run a recording studio and I myself create on many levels. This jacks me and all my people of the things we work hard for. All the artists that come through my studio will be informed and will be signing this petition. Thanks and good luck
I run a recording studio and I myself create on many levels. This jacks me and all my people of the things we work hard for. All the artists that come through my studio will be informed and will be signing this petition. Thanks and good luck
# 813:
11:23 am PST, Jan 6,
Name not displayed, Belgium
I'm an aspiring, self taught digital artist. Though I'm not currently active in the USA, I might be in the future... And I don't feel like paying just to prevent people from making their money off my works without my permission.
I'm an aspiring, self taught digital artist. Though I'm not currently active in the USA, I might be in the future... And I don't feel like paying just to prevent people from making their money off my works without my permission.
# 812:
9:49 am PST, Jan 6,
Michael Officer, California
It is difficult enough already for an artist to make a living with his or her craft, and this would make it even more so. Our government needs to support artists in order to enrich our society and bring depth to our culture.
It is difficult enough already for an artist to make a living with his or her craft, and this would make it even more so. Our government needs to support artists in order to enrich our society and bring depth to our culture.
# 811:
12:44 am PST, Jan 6,
Drew Current, Illinois
I totally support this bill!!!...oh wait...no I don't...another example of the government putting their dirty little creepy uncle fingers on Individual rights...if one could roll in their grave after being dead for 200 years, then George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Mr. Franklin would be doing so.
I totally support this bill!!!...oh wait...no I don't...another example of the government putting their dirty little creepy uncle fingers on Individual rights...if one could roll in their grave after being dead for 200 years, then George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Mr. Franklin would be doing so.
# 810:
5:33 pm PST, Jan 5,
Matthew Masurka, Minnesota
# 809:
5:24 pm PST, Jan 5,
Daniel Kramer, Minnesota
As a musical artist I derive all my income from performances, royalties and licensing. If this bill passes, congress is not only taking away my livelihood but also establishing legalized property theft. Intellectual property is protected by our constitution and therefore this bill is in direct violation of the highest law of the land! With the harsh economic climate we are experiencing it is extremely disheartening that congress would even consider taking away an individual's income! Thank you for your time. Dan Kramer
As a musical artist I derive all my income from performances, royalties and licensing. If this bill passes, congress is not only taking away my livelihood but also establishing legalized property theft. Intellectual property is protected by our constitution and therefore this bill is in direct violation of the highest law of the land! With the harsh economic climate we are experiencing it is extremely disheartening that congress would even consider taking away an individual's income! Thank you for your time. Dan Kramer
# 807:
3:20 pm PST, Jan 5,
Adam Ridley, California
Have people forgotten the idea of a starving artist? Do we take for granted the idea that there are people who literally can't afford to subsidize their art? This bill is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of and no sensible person should support it.
Have people forgotten the idea of a starving artist? Do we take for granted the idea that there are people who literally can't afford to subsidize their art? This bill is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard of and no sensible person should support it.
# 806:
2:47 pm PST, Jan 5,
Name not displayed, Wisconsin
Unbelievable....what will they do after this? increase the price of Ramen noodles?
Unbelievable....what will they do after this? increase the price of Ramen noodles?
# 805:
9:05 am PST, Jan 5,
Alex Drouin, Canada
This will never happen...
This will never happen...
# 804:
6:19 am PST, Jan 5,
Eric Bibeau, Canada
For the creative protection...
For the creative protection...
# 803:
5:26 am PST, Jan 5,
Christian Lemire, Canada
# 802:
9:16 pm PST, Jan 4,
Cassie Canady, Washington
This is APPAULING!!!!! I am a freelance artist and make my living off of my art. I will not stand for corporate theft of MY hard work. They want everything for nothing and are passing a bill to screw us to the ground. FIGHT!!! STAND UP AND FIGHT!!
This is APPAULING!!!!! I am a freelance artist and make my living off of my art. I will not stand for corporate theft of MY hard work. They want everything for nothing and are passing a bill to screw us to the ground. FIGHT!!! STAND UP AND FIGHT!!
# 801:
1:18 am PST, Dec 3,
Ryan Milis, Wisconsin
It would be salvery
It would be salvery
