WASHINGTON, DC (November 20, 2008) – Congress is back in session, albeit maybe only for a few hours, but those opposed to Orphan Works legislation fear that lawmakers in the House might use the opportunity to sneak through HR 5889.
The National Press Photographers Association, along with more than 70 other organizations representing photographers and photographers' rights and more than 10,000 online petition signers, is opposed to the current version of the legislation before the House.
NPPA leaders are again calling on members to contact their Representatives immediately to voice their displeasure with the bill.
The toll-free number to call Congress is +1.800.828.0498.
NPPA members can find their Representative here and their Senator here.
Earlier this year the Senate passed their version of Orpah Works legislation, the Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008. The House could agree to the Senate's version or pass their own bill, HR 5889.
The House is under heavy pressure from library lobbyists to pass the legislation, which has also been supported by Google and Microsoft.
The Orphan Works Act that passed in the Senate requires only that a company make a "reasonably diligent" search to locate a copyright owner before using their work in media – including the Internet – and places limits on how much a copyright owner can collect in compensation if their copyright has been infringed.
The previous copyright laws protected copyright holders for decades, whether the copyright holder was aware of it or not.
Read a detailed background story on what Orphan Works legislation means to photographers.
