Don't lose your ownership of your own images...

Listed below is a post that I found via Tim Holtz, on Claudine Hellmuth's blog.  This text (beginning in red) is taken directly from her blog. 

As someone who likes to create images and art and use photo's on my blog, this is disturbing indeed.  And Flickr.  This would surely impact Flickr. 

So if this disburbs you and much as it did me, please take a mintue to go to Claudine's blog and fill out the form (click on HER link that says, "send a letter").  It takes five seconds to do and lets your voice be heard.  Let's not make the stealing of our artwork and imagery and beloved photo's any easier for them than it already is.  Please take a second and fill out this form letter.  It's quick and easy and I did it.  Here's Claudine's post, but please go to her blog to find out more and to take a second and fill it the form.

Thanks,

yapping cat

do you post your family photos online? read this!

There are two bills that are coming up in the House and Senate that will change copyright as we know it.

They were shot down once before because of action against it --- but now they are back as bill numbers H.R. 5889 The Orphan Works Act of 2008 and S 2913 The Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

If you post your family photos on Flickr, anywhere on the internet or on your blog read on!

Could you imagine if someone used your child's photo in an unsavory advertisement and you had no say and no rights to make them stop using it! This could easily happen if these bills are passed. There has already been an instance of Virgin Mobile using unauthorized Flickr photos of children in advertisements & billboards and that is before this law was proposed. We do not need to make it easier for them to steal your family photos!

If you are posting your photos online, you should read below and then send a letter (there is an EASY fill out form on the Illustrator Partnership web site all you do is enter your info and press send!)Takes 1 minute!!!

This is NOT a hoax. This is FOR REAL. And it is scary. Some people say us illustrators and designers are being alarmist, but I would rather err on the side of caution, defeat this bill and keep my copyrights as they are now. These bills were shot down once because of strong resistance from Illustrators, designers and photographers we can defeat these bills again!

Comments

[Lisa Hessabi]

Thanks, Cindy!! For spreading the word. I just sent my emails, and it only too 1 minute like you said. I'm going to post this on my blog also.
ttfn
Lisa

[Jim]

I support this Bill.

Fair use has been gutted, we can have a private free exchange of information on the internet or we can have copyright laws. There is not room for both.

I will not sacrifice freedom of speech, privacy and the basic realities of the internet to maintain outdated business models.

Simple remedy, keep your business out of my library.

If you don't want it on the internet don't upload it.

[Cindy]

Jim,
Thanks for your comment on my blog.
Ok, so my rights end, so yours can win? That does'nt seem right does it? Part of the reason I part my art work on the internet is too attract buyers and to converse and share with other artists. Is the internet only to be used for porn and Craig's List? Gimme a break man. Please explain why "fair use" as you say, has been gutted? And since when do you "own" the library? It's not your living room for Pete's sake...last time I drove past ours, it was not "Jim's Library" it was the PUBLIC Library. Who says the current laws are outdated? They have existed for years and have worked quite well thank you. What is to be gained by the passing of this bill? You say there is no room for both and YOU will not sacrifice your freedom...so where does that leave my freedom? What is to be gained by the passing of this bill? As a concerned artist, I really would be interested in hearing as to why you would support this bill. And, I'm just small potatoes, there is a larger discussion here:
http://claudinehellmuth.blogspot.com/

Again, thanks for your comment. After reading CH's comments again this morning, there seems to be some confusion as to the actual wording of the bill and what it would really mean, but can one every act to quickly if it feels as though one's rights are going to be taken away?

-yap cat