Greetings All!
I know it has been a while, but we thought we were done with Orphan Works for the session and then we would get to come to the table to create a working solution. I have to report that this is trying to literally be passed in the middle of the night. The Senate passed a version of Orphan Works and now the House is trying to do the same.
PLEASE CONTACT YOUR CONGRESSPERSON NOW!
TELL THEM NOT TO ADOPT S.2913 OR HR 5889
They are trying to move Orphan Works tonight Oct 2 or tomorrow morning!!!
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/issues/alert/?alertid=11980321
Please help us stop Senate Bill 2913 and House Bill 5889 by CONTACTING your Members of CONGRESS and telling them to vote NO.
Call Congress For Free: 1- 800-828-0498.
For Background info on Orphan Works Legislation:
http://www.artistsfoundation.org/orphan.html
Showing posts with label copyright office. Show all posts
Showing posts with label copyright office. Show all posts
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Monday, November 19, 2007
The US Copyright Office On Line!!!
Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash!
The US Copyright Office is considering going on line. Our firm is a beta-test firm!
We of course are excited and apprehensive at the same time. The filing of trademarks was revolutionalized when the US Patent & Trademark Office allowed trademarks to be filed on line. The on line filing features also lead to enhanced features such as reviewing files on line and the like.
The US Copyright Office is testing the option at the moment. It is only for single use filing. This means at this time collections must still be filed via regular mail. There also appears to be a cost reduction for filing on line.
Rumors have been swirling around for quite some time that the US Copyright Office hopes to eventually have a visual database. This would be a monumental task that would be made much easier if filings were completed on line.
I am INCREDIBLY optimistic AND cautious at the same time! This may make the filing of copyrights much easier and encourage more filings. However, it may also encourage false filings or ineligible filings. It may also make archiving procedures incredibly difficut for law firms and others should the US Copyright Office one day be unable to locate a specimen. As well, it will also be difficult to tell what the real specimen is for a multipage document...is one to scan all 500 pages in of a book???
We hold strong hope! We have already started the process and we will report more later. Our poll for the month deals with the topic. Please vote - your vote is anonymous!
Finally, we are pleased to announce a new addition to our office staff. Princess Marguerite Brunnehilde Browning-Smith will be the new office pet - inspecting packages, greeting clients, and the like. She has not had to work for 14 years while her brother came to the office. However, we sadly report that this past week her Shar Pei brother Bufford passed away unexpectedly. Our office is lonely without him. Marguerite has agreed to try and take up the task. Here's how her first day went:
Surprisingly, we had many anonymous comments as well. Please note - if you post anonymously we read your comments, but we delete them. Anonymous posts do not give us an opportunity or others the opportunity to respond. Furthermore, they are usually inaccurate or misleading. We are happy to post comments - good or bad. However, we ask you to use your name.
Don't forget to vote in our on line poll...it should be fun!
Have fun this holiday season!
Don't forget to create with your head and your heart!
Tammy
The US Copyright Office is considering going on line. Our firm is a beta-test firm!
We of course are excited and apprehensive at the same time. The filing of trademarks was revolutionalized when the US Patent & Trademark Office allowed trademarks to be filed on line. The on line filing features also lead to enhanced features such as reviewing files on line and the like.
The US Copyright Office is testing the option at the moment. It is only for single use filing. This means at this time collections must still be filed via regular mail. There also appears to be a cost reduction for filing on line.
Rumors have been swirling around for quite some time that the US Copyright Office hopes to eventually have a visual database. This would be a monumental task that would be made much easier if filings were completed on line.
I am INCREDIBLY optimistic AND cautious at the same time! This may make the filing of copyrights much easier and encourage more filings. However, it may also encourage false filings or ineligible filings. It may also make archiving procedures incredibly difficut for law firms and others should the US Copyright Office one day be unable to locate a specimen. As well, it will also be difficult to tell what the real specimen is for a multipage document...is one to scan all 500 pages in of a book???
We hold strong hope! We have already started the process and we will report more later. Our poll for the month deals with the topic. Please vote - your vote is anonymous!
Finally, we are pleased to announce a new addition to our office staff. Princess Marguerite Brunnehilde Browning-Smith will be the new office pet - inspecting packages, greeting clients, and the like. She has not had to work for 14 years while her brother came to the office. However, we sadly report that this past week her Shar Pei brother Bufford passed away unexpectedly. Our office is lonely without him. Marguerite has agreed to try and take up the task. Here's how her first day went:
Surprisingly, we had many anonymous comments as well. Please note - if you post anonymously we read your comments, but we delete them. Anonymous posts do not give us an opportunity or others the opportunity to respond. Furthermore, they are usually inaccurate or misleading. We are happy to post comments - good or bad. However, we ask you to use your name.
Don't forget to vote in our on line poll...it should be fun!
Have fun this holiday season!
Don't forget to create with your head and your heart!
Tammy
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Copyrights 101 - Using Resources Already Available
Your Tax Dollars Are Hard At Work!
While doing research for today's blog, I was visiting the "Holy Land of Copyrights"...The US Copyright Office Website. I ran across a few new features and decided I would take this blog to discuss a wealth of information that is at any one's finger tips if you just decide to use it.
The US Copyright Office holds a wealth of information and can answer many questions a copyright holder may have. Rest assured, it is the first place most attorneys go when questions arise. There are all sorts of resources, such as:
Circulars and Brochures - These are short (1-4 page articles) that go straight to the heart of a single topic such as Copyright Basics, Work for Hire, Specimens, Visual Arts, etc. These Circulars are not the "end all - be all" for copyright law, but they answer many general questions and open many copyright holders eyes to the rights and responsibilities in the copyright laws.
Factsheets - These are one page, quick reference guides and serve to answer questions such as fees, contribution to a collection, fair use and even RECIPES (yummm......).
Forms - The most up to date forms for each classification can be found on the website. As well, you will find the "step by step" directions. The US Copyright Office website is great to help you with PROCEDURE but not with substance. That is where a consultation with your legal advisor is necessary to make sure all your ducks are in a row. (Don't forget to review our blog on that!)
The information changes often. There is a fairly decent search engine and the US Copyright Office continues to improve it. It is not a visual database, but there is hopes that one day there will be.
THE FUTURE...
You still cannot register your copyright on line. Even if you can...I don't know if it will be such a good idea. Our firm has signed up to be a "beta tester" so we will keep you informed. The US Trademark Office registration process is fantastic...but it is a different animal. It is hard to say whether or not the US Copyright Office will be able to adapt the copyright process into an "on line" viability. As soon as we know...we'll let you know!
FUN....
Yes, even the US Government can entertain you! If you want to know some general copyright facts or even explain it to younger artists, try this program from the US Copyright Website:
Here's some great items. And for those of you questioning what I am doing pasting clip art, links, etc. - US Government Items are in the public domain and we are using them for comment!
There are many options available and we encourage you to use them! They aren't the definitive answers, but a place to start. The key to remember is: Every situation is different, but there are many facts that remain the same.
While doing research for today's blog, I was visiting the "Holy Land of Copyrights"...The US Copyright Office Website. I ran across a few new features and decided I would take this blog to discuss a wealth of information that is at any one's finger tips if you just decide to use it.
The US Copyright Office holds a wealth of information and can answer many questions a copyright holder may have. Rest assured, it is the first place most attorneys go when questions arise. There are all sorts of resources, such as:
Circulars and Brochures - These are short (1-4 page articles) that go straight to the heart of a single topic such as Copyright Basics, Work for Hire, Specimens, Visual Arts, etc. These Circulars are not the "end all - be all" for copyright law, but they answer many general questions and open many copyright holders eyes to the rights and responsibilities in the copyright laws.
Factsheets - These are one page, quick reference guides and serve to answer questions such as fees, contribution to a collection, fair use and even RECIPES (yummm......).
Forms - The most up to date forms for each classification can be found on the website. As well, you will find the "step by step" directions. The US Copyright Office website is great to help you with PROCEDURE but not with substance. That is where a consultation with your legal advisor is necessary to make sure all your ducks are in a row. (Don't forget to review our blog on that!)
The information changes often. There is a fairly decent search engine and the US Copyright Office continues to improve it. It is not a visual database, but there is hopes that one day there will be.
THE FUTURE...
You still cannot register your copyright on line. Even if you can...I don't know if it will be such a good idea. Our firm has signed up to be a "beta tester" so we will keep you informed. The US Trademark Office registration process is fantastic...but it is a different animal. It is hard to say whether or not the US Copyright Office will be able to adapt the copyright process into an "on line" viability. As soon as we know...we'll let you know!
FUN....
Yes, even the US Government can entertain you! If you want to know some general copyright facts or even explain it to younger artists, try this program from the US Copyright Website:
Here's some great items. And for those of you questioning what I am doing pasting clip art, links, etc. - US Government Items are in the public domain and we are using them for comment!
There are many options available and we encourage you to use them! They aren't the definitive answers, but a place to start. The key to remember is: Every situation is different, but there are many facts that remain the same.
Many blogs review products, etc. At our site, we review the Copyright Office! You gotta love it!
Happy Midweek!
Create with Your Heart and Head!
Tammy
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