This Is News Of A Threat To The Works Of Professional Artists!

[XRaiderV1]

Mind Your Business: You Will Lose All The Rights to Your Own Art (http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Columns&article_no=3605)

this, my friends, is a call to action stations!
DO NOT LET OUR GOVERNMENTS SCREW US OVER!!!!!!!!!

in the timeless words of soo many, tell our government HELL FRAKKING NO! to the Orphan Works legislation bill!

I kid you not, if this bill passes, all artists will be affected, a similar situation is taking place in Europe right now!

[XRaiderV1]

petition against that cursed bill: http://www.petitiononline.com/dAvsOW/petition.html

[evil_genius_180]

The bill has already been shot down in committee, dude.

[XRaiderV1]

even if thats so, it's still advisable to petition against it, if enough voices are heard, next time it comes back, it will get defeated soundly.

all my sources tell me its still currently being debated, I'll need to check with them in the afternoon.

[etwtewtew]

It was already soundly defeated, in 2006. It never made it out of committee (http://www.copyright.gov/orphan/).

[evil_genius_180]

Either way, the thread title is misleading. I've read the article (seen this posted on another forum) and it really only applies to professional artists and amateur artists who sell or make money off their art. Under the proposed law, people will be able to buy art and, if it isn't registered in the copyright office or the copyright has expired, they can then upload it to the internet and give it away for free or even sell it themselves, thereby making said artists lose money. This completely sucks ass for professionals and people who sell their art.

Why this doesn't mean crap to the rest of us is because we already upload our art to the internet and give it away for free. So, we won't lose anything more than we do under the current law. When you upload art to the internet and give it away for free, you are (unfortunately) inviting anybody who downloads it to do whatever he/she wants with it. And sometimes people make money off your stuff without your knowledge (just ask Warrior about that.)

So, instead of getting a bunch of people worried about a proposed law that doesn't apply to 96% of us, I'm going to change the thread title to "This is News of a Threat to the Works of Professional Artists."

[XRaiderV1]

I was more than upset when I set up this thread, as such, I wasnt thinking clearly when I set up the thread, thank you for correcting my title error.

[evil_genius_180]

NP, man. I can understand that. I was a bit upset when I saw that article also, until I read it a second time and figured out exactly what it was telling me.

I do hope that bill fails, though. We have some pro artists who display work here (Sean is one that comes immediately to mind) and I'd hate to think they would have to register every piece of art at the copyright office. That would cost too much to make it worth the while to be a pro artist. :(

[XRaiderV1]

if they ever succeed in passing it, I'd rather willingly gut all my online accounts of artwork then let some brainless gorm come along and steal my work.

if that happens, then the only ones who will gain enjoyment of my work would be those who have pre-existing copies.

and that kinda defeats the purpose.

[Lee]

Read this....

Six Misconceptions About Orphaned Works (http://maradydd.livejournal.com/374886.html)

[evil_genius_180]

Thanks LR. That clears up a lot. It actually sounds like a pretty decent bill and is of absolutely no threat to anyone (unless they're dead or MIA, in which case they don't care.) I wish that guy who wrote that article that got everyone in a frenzy would do better research. :(

[Lee]

Yeah, He seems like a bit of a dick to me. But if he hadn't of written the article, most of use wouldn't have even bothered to look up the correct info to begin with. And now we have a better understanding of the current laws and some proposed legislation.

[evil_genius_180]

Yeah, He seems like a bit of a dick to me.

Yeah, that was my impression after I read that other article you posted.

[XRaiderV1]

and now, while I may still wanna introduce mr. rocket launcher to the backsides of most if not every member of the government, I now have a strong desire to introduce my size 11 boot to the backside of the 'dick' that posted that article.........

[evil_genius_180]

While you're certainly entitled to your own opinion, let's keep this friendly, please. I know you don't mean anything by it but negative comments about the government can be taken badly and fights can start. So, let's leave our feelings about the government, positive or negative out of the forums, please. Thanks. :)

I think, if nothing else, they should take that guy's Journalism credentials away but they don't do that just for being stupid, unfortunately.

[Lee]

Well, his credibility is just about gone anyway... so I guess that would have to suffice.

[XRaiderV1]

dont worry evil genius, I've said my peace, and I'll leave it at that.

[RLOwens]

Thanks for the 6 Rules link, more clarification is always a good thing. As I've been seeing this panic post popping up everywhere.

[Darrell Lawrence]

Anywhere you see the panic post, point 'em here to this thread :)

[visionv]

Cool. Bill shot cown!