Mind Your Business: Does Congress Care About Your Creations?

[undeterred]

When I found out about the Orphan Works Act, I was astounded that anyone in Congress would consider legislation that could so obviously be used against artists and their original creations.
I started helping the Illustrators' Partnership in getting artists to write letters to Congress asking senators and representatives to oppose the bill. (You have written a few yourself, right? Every voice counts!) So far artists have sent over 99,000 letters opposing the bill through the system the Illustrators' Partnership set up (http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/). That doesn't even count all the letters sent and calls made to representatives and senators directly.

Your Voices Are Being Heard!
At least they are being heard by some people on the Hill. However, I'm not quite sure what some of our congressmen are listening to. When artist Marty Kleva called the office of his New Mexico representative, Tom Udall, Kleva was told, "This is a very popular bill." Really? Popular? Have you seen the outrage in the online artist communities? Has Udall read any of the tens of thousands of letters sent to Congress opposing this bill?

Congressman Steve Kagen stated in his response to Kathy Glasnap, "This bill has come under considerable scrutiny and criticism from people in the arts community." This statement completely contradicts that of Udall. At least Kagen is listening.

As you may imagine, I have gotten a huge amount of e-mail regarding this issue. Most artists understand the problems inherent in this legislation and they oppose the bill. Your letters are working and legislators are starting to listen. At the end of May I asked a number of artists on my Orphan Works E-Mail List to forward the responses they have received from their representatives and senators regarding orphan works. I was copied on over 60 responses, which show a combination of support for the bill, opposition to it and a complete lack of understanding of the issue.

http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3667