Hi guys! I think it might be incredibly important to creative professionals, hobbyists, etc. to know about this. Feel free to reblog w/ more info, or if I’ve gotten something wrong.
Carla Hayden, librarian of Congress and anti-copyright activist, has the power to change the copyright laws in the USA to:
If you find a piece of work (such as a picture of a flower, or a cool drawing of a goth anime character) and cannot track down the original creator after searching “diligently”, it becomes free to use by anyone.
You can find a more indepth summary of what they’re trying to do from the 2008 orphan works bill here.
TLDR: Your work may no longer have guaranteed copyright protection if people don’t speak up.
Please read more about it here.
From the link:
As we’ve seen in the past, the anti-copyright lobby has the resources to gin up an “astroturf” response to such “surveys.” They can then use that “response” to go to Congress to present their case for free content as “the will of the people.”
To counter this lobbying tactic, creators must respond in force with a call to retain the full protections of copyright as articulated in Article I Section 8 of the Constitution.
Please take the time to go to the Library of Congress survey website and respond to Dr. Hayden’s three questions.
1. What are the knowledge, skills, and abilities you believe are the most important for the Register of Copyrights?
2. What should be the top three priorities for the Register of Copyrights?
3. Are there other factors that should be considered?
SURVEY SAMPLE ANSWERS HERE for those who want them!
We have until January 31st, so if you can help spread the word or fill out the survey, that would be awesome!
