Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]To the professionals on the list, this might help the beleaguered photo profession a little, from Jack Reznicki and the Professional Photographers of America: "Contact your Senators immediately and urge them to pass H.R. 2391, The Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2004. Congress reconvenes on November 16 for a "lame duck" session-giving photographers one last chance at improving copyright law in 2004. You can contact your Senators (and get a sample e-mail) at http://capwiz.com/ppaworld/issues/alert/?alertid=6599801&type=CO The Intellectual Property Protection Act combines provisions from several bills that PPA has fought for during this Congress. Here are the provisions most applicable to the rights of professional photographers: -Infringers will no longer be able to use innocent errors in a copyright registration to have a case dismissed. -Department of Justice may elect to bring civil copyright suits against infringers - with damage awards going to the copyright owner as restitution. -Eliminates registration requirement for infringement actions by the U.S. Government -Allows courts to treat parts of a collective work as individual works for statutory damages purposes. -Creates a program to educate the public regarding the importance of intellectual property and the harms associated with infringement. -Authorizes at least $15 million for criminal copyright investigations in 2005. -Makes it easier to prove damages in criminal prosecutions against online infringers -Allocates $2 million for better training of U.S. Attorney's Office personnel on intellectual property issues. Acting now is significant. When the new Congress begins in January, all unpassed legislation from 2003 and 2004 will be wiped out - leaving us to start the lobbying process all over again. Again, we urge you to your Senators in support of this legislation by going to: http://capwiz.com/ppaworld/issues/alert/?alertid=6599801&type=CO As always, there is no guarantee that all - or any - of the bill provisions will be enacted into law. PPA will provide updates as this legislation progresses." Tina Manley, ASMP www.tinamanley.com http://www.pdiphotos.com http://www.workbookstock.com http://www.newscom.com http://www.americanphotojournalist.com