You Will Lose All the Right to Your Own Art

[oochappan]

As a photographer artist, you have to read this article or you could lose everything you have ever created.
http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=Colu ... le_no=3605

maybe Pbase could add the choice of a password to large-original size so that only thumbs or medium size can be seen ?

[dang]

We had another short discussion on this recently here: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=37137
I'm thinking there's enough professionals involved it will be fixed before a finale draft will be passed. It's pretty doubtful everyone who depends on their
works for profit will sit back without speaking up.

[kodachrome]

The linked article suggests that you "contact your legislator" to protest the proposed changes. It also suggests that large commercial interests are the main beneficiaries of "orphaned works" and are lobbying for this legislation.

OK. But why not fight fire with fire? I think Adobe, Canon, Nikon, PBase et. al. would be huge losers if photographers lost their rights to "orphaned works". I would certainly have no need for any of these products were I to lose the rights to my images through new legislation that essentially authorizes piracy. So, why not also contact the commercial enterprises that provide the tools that you purchase to craft your new "orphaned works".

[alangrant]

Almost everything in that article is disputed in this article. Who should we believe?

[dang]

Good article, Alan.
There's a lot of outdated information around which people come across, and thus the confusion. At least this article is dated as current, and would carry more weight with me. Like all things legal, it's going to be gone through with a fine tooth comb, but in the end there's probably going to be loop holes & abuse. Still, the best protection for photographers is to post small size files which can't be used for much. At least then, anyone needing larger would be forced to find the original owner.

[dougj]

Here's the press release from Senator Patrick Leahy on the proposed legislation

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200804/042408e.html

There are 2 bills - one from the Senate and another from the House of Representatives

Now that the bills have have been put before Congress, we can get some perspective on what they say and mean as they meander through the legislative process.