stuff about artstuff.

They're Asking You and Me...

The Federal Government (yes, that Federal Government) wants to hear from you about how copyright law effects you.  No, really, they do.  Let y0ur voice be heard, creative friends and those who care about the rights of all artists and creators!

Please visit this post on Sue Zipkin's blog for the full story.

In the Art Licensing community, we have all been faced with infringement situations on some scale; when those new to the industry ask me about this issue I tell them "it's just a matter of time before it happens to you" and I don't mean that in a "we're all doomed" sort of way, it's just how things are out there.  It's so important that the law continues to protect artists as it always has in these cases, and grows and changes with the digital age as new media becomes available to the public, including those who would take advantage of others.

This is our chance, they're making it simple - you can do it in an email - please take a moment to speak out about how important Intellectual Property Enforcement is to you, and to all of us.

Thanks to Sue and to the Copyright Alliance for getting the word out about this! 
And thanks to the Copyright Alliance for all the great work they're doing.  You can find out more on their website.

Illustration Friday: Repair

For some odd reason this week's IF topic conjured up the concept of an old-timey editorial cartoon in my twisted little brain. Must be all the rest of the stuff currently swirling around up in there...just one big old blustery storm of politics, worry, fear, and yes, copyrights. So what should come flying out of the sky in that storm but this poor little house, in dire need of serious repair.

I didn't exactly capture the "old-timey" feel I originally imagined, and there's definitely stuff I'd fix and adjust if I were going to invest the time and effort...but it was sorta fun to take a little break and work on something completely different than the assignments that are on my desk right now.

When the storm subsides and they do hoist this thing up, I hope we creative folks are ready because the Orphan Works Act is still out there. This wicked witch and band of evil flying monkeys are going to continue their plight and we will need to continue to fight for something many of us have long taken for granted, our rights under current Copyright Law.

And I'd like to take this chance to thank you to all of you awesome folks who have fought the good fight up to this point...those who have written letters and made calls to elected officials, who have attended hearings, gotten the word out to other artists in person at tradeshows, on the phone, and via the World Wide Interwebs (that's the one with email), you guys rock and deserve a giant THANKS!

Heavy Sigh (and then some).

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?

It's Still Lurking Out There...

A special thanks to fellow licensing-artist Brenda Pinnick for the new link in my sidebar to the Orphan Works Opposition Headquarters website. You can read about the current status of the bills here, and Brenda herself has written a great post on their blog.
On a lovely summer day with loads of other things to think about and do, it's easy for it to fall into the old out-of-sight-out-of-mind status, but this dangerous issue hasn't gone away yet and it won't without our voices being heard (and heard, and heard, and heard again)...so here's my little nudge-nudge-nudge to all of you to keep on top of it!
Thanks Brenda, and all of you who have been so involved in the fight!

Illustration Friday: Wrinkles

Ok, so I spent all of 5 minutes on this sketch and yes, it's ugly but HEY! I just wanted to get your attention....just in case you're not already completely and thoroughly aware of this, the Orphan Works Bill is back...like one of those horror-movie characters that won't stay dead.
And yes, it is giving me new wrinkles. I'm not sure which upsets me more, wrinkles or losing the rights to my art - my livelihood, my income, my entire career, my creations, my babies...ok, I'm not quite that vain, of course the latter is most upsetting of the two (duh).
Please, please, please, please please...take a few moments and make your voice heard about this before the unthinkable happens and this ridiculously bad bill becomes a ridiculously bad law. You don't have to go far to find information on this, there are links on a gazillion various art and photography blogs and websites with resources: form-letters you can fill-in if you're not comfortable writing one yourself, links to find your own Senators and Congressmen/women, you can download and read both versions of the bill...look, I know you're busy and you don't like doing stuff like this. Ok, I know I'm busy and don't like doing stuff like this, so it's easy for me to assume you might be the same way. But really...this time, something needs to be done.
Please take a few minutes now, ok?
Thanks.