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Photographer Associations express concerns with Orphan Works bills S2913 and HR5889
For several years now the US Congress has been debating orphan works legislation which would allow publishers to use copyrighted works without a license in the event that it is difficult or impossible to identify and contact the copyright holder. As in recent years, organizations representing artists and copyright holders have made it clear that they cannot support this legislation in its current form. The Advertising Photographers of America (APA), the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), the Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) and Editorial Photographers (EP) on behalf of their members are urging congress to change Orphan Works bills S2913 and HR5889 as they bad for copyright holders and inconsistent with international trade agreements.
In recent months, representatives from APA and NPPA have met with members of Congress and legislative staff to express their concerns regarding Orphan Works bills S2913 and HR5889. The photographers’ representatives offered potential solutions for limiting the legislation to works that are truly “orphaned,” for non-commercial use by the cultural heritage sector - particularly non-profit libraries, museums and archives.
International photographer groups have also expressed their opposition to the orphan works legislation in its current form. Among those groups are the UK’s Association of Photographers (AOP), FreeLens, Union des Photographes Créateurs (UPC), and the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC).
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Posted in: Legal / Copyright, News, Orphan Works, Photographers, Stock Photo Companies
