In case you haven’t heard there are 2 bills in congress right now dealing with the issues of rights of “orphaned works” meaning the rights to works of art and photographs for which the copyright holder cannot be located.
Now I am not one of those die hard “protect copyright at all costs” – I think that the internet and digital distribution is changing the business model of selling photography much in the same way that it changed the business model of selling music. Those who adapted and embraced the new model and the new media profited, those who cling to the “old ways” (cough – RIAA -cough) are doomed to fail.
HOWEVER, this bill has *serious* ramifications for copyright and fair use for photography. It is absolutely *ripe* for abuse.
John Harrington, of “Photo Business News & Forum” has written about it far better than I ever could. I agree with his assessment entirely.
check out his article here:
http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2008/05/orphan-works-2008-wolf-in-sheeps.html
and email/mail your representative!
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