ASMP DallasChapter

The Copyright Office -- usually a friend to photographers -- has submitted to the Congress an amendment to the Copyright Act that could hardly be less friendly! If passed into law in its present form, it could tear down much of the protection for our images built up laboriously over the years. The amendment concerns "orphan works" -- those where the creator cannot readily be found. In effect, it would arm infringers with a ready defense against charges of infringement while at the same time depriving photographers (and other creative professionals!) of the tools, such as monetary awards and attorney's fees, needed to protect their copyrights. This is extremely serious and ASMP is on the case. Go to Orphanworks (http://www.asmp.org/orphanworks/) to learn about the danger.