A little out of touch around here the last few days.
I won't bore you with the details leading up to it, but it has culminated in a brand new shiny hard-drive and a couple other random components for my computer (not planned purchases, mind you). Yawn, you really don't want to know more, so we'll leave it at that.
What you do need to know (maybe you already do but I'm about to tell you anyway) is, while I was residing in my own Private Idaho, all holed up here freaking out about small things, out-of-touch with (gasp) even email, a lot went on out there in the real world. Among other sad and terrible news, the Orphan Works Act passed Senate by hotlining.
"As lawmakers struggled Friday to clean up the mess on Wall Street, sponsors of the Orphan Works Act passed more special interest legislation. Their bill would force copyright holders to subsidize giant copyright databases run by giant internet firms.
"Like the companies now needing billion dollar bailouts, these copyright registries – which would theoretically contain the entire copyright wealth of the US – would presumably be "too big to fail." Yet it's our wealth, not theirs, the scheme would risk.
"Small business owners didn't ask for this legislation. We don't want it and we don't need it. Our opposition numbers have been growing daily. So Friday, the bill's sponsors reached for the hotline."
(quoted from the IPOW blog)
Please, please, please, if you don't already know about this issue, find out about it here; and even if you have taken action previously, please, please, please take a few seconds (really this is all it takes, I promise) and send a new message to your House Representative by filling in your zip-code here and following a couple simple prompts. A couple seconds, really.
If you're another artist, it's your personal property and livelihood at stake here. If you're a supporter of the arts in any way, please do everyone-you-care-about-who-creates a favor and help us with this issue.
Did I mention it will only take a couple seconds?
Beth, You are 100% correct my dear! I sent my letters again......UGG
Posted by: Sue Z | September 30, 2008 at 07:56 AM