UPDATE: ORPHAN WORKS BILL

INFO SOURCE: THE ILLUSTRATORS’ PARTNERSHIP & MARK SIMON
IMAGE: Amos White V for THE ARTISTS FORUM, INC.
AF MAG UPDATE FROM: SEE PROTECT YOUR LEGAL COPYRIGHTS!

MARK SIMON: Congrats! Orphan Works Bill Put On Hold.

Hello fellow artists,
Your fast work paid off. We got the Orphan Works bill put on Hold.
However, we have to be ready to move quickly again. The
Illustrator's Partnership sent out details yesterday that I have
copied below.

Mark Simon
Artist Advocate

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP
Senate Orphan Works Bill Put "on Hold"

We've just received word that the Senate bill has been put "on hold." In fact, there appear to be multiple holds on it. Senators who "hold" hotlined bills do not have to identify themselves nor give their reasons for holding it. Holds are temporary. We don't know how many of you contacted your Senators on such short notice this afternoon, but many, many thanks to all of you who responded so rapidly.

Most people are unaware of the process called hotlining. In the past it was used to pass non-controversial legislation, but increasingly, it's being used to pass bills whose sponsors don't want to see debate. An excellent article in Roll Call explains the process. Here's an excerpt:

Senate conservatives are upset that the leaders of both parties in the chamber have in recent years increasingly used a practice known as "hotlining" bills - previously used to quickly move noncontroversial bills or simple procedural motions - to pass complex and often costly legislation, in some cases with little or no public debate. The increase was particularly noticeable just before the August recess, when leaders hotlined more than 150 bills, totaling millions of dollars in new spending, in a period of less than a week.

The practice has led to complaints from Members and watchdog groups alike that lawmakers are essentially signing off on legislation neither they nor their staff have ever read...

In order for a bill to be hotlined, the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leader must agree to pass it by unanimous consent, without a roll-call vote. The two leaders then inform Members of this agreement using special hotlines installed in each office and give Members a specified amount of time to object - in some cases as little as 15 minutes. If no objection is registered, the bill is passed.

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HELP STOP ORPHAN WORKS BILL
CLICK TO CONTACT CONGRESS
(FROM AF MAG / JUNE 2008)

Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Our Work

FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP

Call to Action: Last Thursday the Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed their
Orphan Works Act. It is now headed for the full Senate.

If you've written before, now's the time to write again.
Urge your senator to oppose this bill.

Because it has been negotiated behind closed doors, introduced on short notice and fast-tracked for imminent passage without open hearings, ask that this bill not be passed until it can be exposed to an open, informed and transparent public debate.

We've drafted a special letter for this purpose.
You can deep link to it here:
Contact your Senator in opposition to S.2913 NOW
The House Judiciary Committee is considering H.R. 5889, the companion bill now. Please write them again:
Contact your Congressman in opposition to H.R. 5889 NOW
2 minutes is all it takes to write your senator and representatives and fight for your copyrights. Over 68,000 e-mail messages have been sent so far.

Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work

Please forward this message to every artist you know.

LINKS:

MARK SIMON ORPHAN WORKS ARTICLE ON AF MAG

(May 7, 2008, Geneva) Orphan Works Bill Catches Global Attention
http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1028

(April 30, 2008) IPA Senate Mark-up Comments :
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs

(March 20, 2008) IPA Statement to House Subcommittee :
http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00261

YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqBZd0cP5Yc or see AF PODCASTS

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BILL PUT ON HOLD