Orphan Works Act, anyone?

[luciazephyr]

Hey, apparently there is a piece of legislation going through the House concerning "orphan works" that would let the art of copyright holders become public domain if the copyright holder it impossible/hard to find. One example I heard was a music album that a company is not reissuing, it'd become public domain.

I also heard some fretting that original work that fannish folk do might be affected. I'm not sure how since we all already exist in the legal grey area anyway.

But, yeah. I can't find a decent, non-biased link about this around and when I try to read the bill, my eyes cross. Anyone know more or have any thoughts? I'm wondering if I should be contacting my congress folk about supporting/voting against it.

:shrugs:

-Luce

Comments

[zero-dances.livejournal.com]

On the other end of the spectrum, sounds like the article people are freaking out over was very wrong (http://yaoi.y-gallery.net/journal/snover/130570/).

But hell if I know. I'm not that concerned.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

See, those were my thoughts on the subject too! I thought the law sounded like an awesome Creative Commons-style push and was wondering why everyone thought it was a bad thing.

Now, I am verily amused that I, a high school senior, know more about copyright law than a magazine columnist. \o/

[zero-dances.livejournal.com]

I honestly don't know anything about it beyond what I read for two articles that say two vastly different things, but to me it sounds completely implausible that the government would do what the AWN article says they're trying to do. But yeah I'll have to look into it more in order to have a better informed opinion.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Well, one of the very few things we learned in my school was how copyright law works. I should have trusted my judgement first time I read the moron article.

[zero-dances.livejournal.com]

Well of course laws can change and that's what they were all yelling about is gonna happen in order for Big Business to win over us Peons. But I just can't forsee the government saying "YEAH LET'S MAKE EVERYONE REGISTER EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF CREATIVE WORK THEY EVER DO ELSE THE BIG BUSINESS CAN STEAL THEM." Yes, they make money from having works registered, but they would have to restructure their entire department in charge of such things, developing and implementing new very complex systems to organise the flood of pieces of work someone wants to register, not to mention how many people they'd have to hire and train just to handle the huge workload this would create. Seems like something the government would be losing out on money to do.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

:nods: Yes, what you said.

Though the current administration is all about losing money, AMIRITE?

[zero-dances.livejournal.com]

I'm glad we reached an agreement.

YOU ARE CORRECT though I appreciate Bush sending me free money this tax season. I'm glad that in my small part I was able to put our country into further debt just so I'd have 300 dollars.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Those three hundred dollars will FIX THE ECONOMY!

Just make sure you buy American. Don't support the terrorists!

[zero-dances.livejournal.com]

Yeah! I totally spend that money on such American produced products as

as







.

[lucia-tanaka.livejournal.com]

Well.... try not to buy from Al Queda at least, I guess...