A Call to Action on Orphan Works Bill!
Now is the time to make your voice heard on the Orphan Works legislation that is in front of Congress. (For information on its disastrous effects for the scrapbook industry's creative people, see previous articles Hear More About Orphan Works Legislation and Legal Expert Weighs In On Orphan Works.)
There is a long list of artists' organizations opposing this legislation:
American Society of Illustrators Partnership
- The Illustrators Partnership of America
- The Society of Illustrators New York
- The American Society of Architectural Illustrators
- The Association of Medical Illustrators
- The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators
- The American Society of Aviation Artists
- The Illustrators Club of Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia
- The Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators
- The National Cartoonists Society
- The San Francisco Society of Illustrators
- The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles
- The Society of Illustrators of San Diego
The Advertising Photographers of America (APA National) and 10 Chapters:
- APA New York
- APA Los Angeles
- APA San Francisco
- APA San Diego
- APA Northwest (Seattle)
- APA Midwest (Chicago)
- APA Atlanta
- APA Charlotte,
- APA Kansas City
- APA Washington, DC
The Artists Rights Society of New York (representing 40,000 fine artists worldwide)
The Professional Women Photographers, Inc.
The Editorial Photographers of America
National Press Photographers Association
The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
The Society of Photographers and Artists Representatives
The Artists Foundation
The Craft and Hobby Association (representing the $31 billion craft industry)
SURTEX/George Little Management
Art of Licensing Listserve
Society of Decorative Painters
Southeastern Pastel Society
Society of Digital Artists
National Association of Independent Artists
Wellington Art Society
Palm Beach County Art Society
Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communication
Rassemblement des Artistes en Arts Visuels
Association de Illustrateurs et Illustratrices du Quebec
Creators’ Rights Alliance
The length of that list, however, does not reduce the need for members of Congress (both the Senate and the House) to hear from their individual constituents that they oppose the bill. To find out how to contact your House or Senate member by email, go to Senate.gov or House.gov. Make sure to include the bill numbers (HR5889 and S2913) in your contact to make it easier for them to log your communication correctly.
It only takes a few moments to drop your lawmakers an email and tell them how you feel about this. You can make a difference. Don't forget they work for you - but only if you tell them what you want!
On June 4th and 5th a group of artists representing those opposed to this legislation will be assembling in Washington, D.C. to meet with various members of Congress about Orphan Works. If you would like to take part in this effort, please contact Joanne Fink or Marisa Shapiro at graphics@lakeside-design.com
Many thanks to Mike Hartnett at CLNOnline and Brenda Pinnick for their contributions to this piece.
