What do you think of this in regards to art & CopyRight?

[MylCreates]

I found this posted on Webcomic Underdogs's FB page. Anyones thoughts on this?

[futureboundentertain]

What... the fudge... I think everyone who sees this needs to share the heck out of it.

The idea of copyright moving to the private sector is just... abominable.

[allenthomas]

I just shared this everywhere. This is crazy and I can't believe this has snuck under the table like this. Not a single word in the news or anywhere.

[futureboundentertain]

I can, they have probably been trying to keep it low-key because of the past repeated failures to make it happen.

[Cielle]

Wow. Why aren't people talking about this? I can't believe this is legal. It's a long video, but it's worth watching to the end.

[scythe]

I'm gonna watch it, but for now, anyone wanna post a tl;dr?

[MylCreates]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe, You have to register everything you've made, the idea of "everything you make is protected under copyright as soon as you make it" will no longer apply. Copyright will be moving to the private sector no longer the public. So the people in the video are asking to do what they done years ago and send a letter advising against the new law to be passed.

[futureboundentertain]

Basically, the people pushing the laws want to make anything on the internet either public domain, or somethign they can essentially harvest and copyright themselves.

They dont want people to have rights to their own work, unless they go through a complicated registering it.

Its basicalyl the "f**k it, I jsut wanna steal sh*t" act.

[allenthomas]

The notion that "Your art is way too important for YOU to own" is what really pissed me off.

[scythe]

If that's the case, it sounds unworkable.

[doktormostro]

I think it´s suppose to be like: It´s not legally yours (creator) until you pay me (state) for giving you a receipt to prove it.

It´s like forcing taxes from wherever they can.

[joannekwan]

I listened to the whole thing, it was really neat to learn about the history of the international copyright law with Victor Hugo and the others.

But shoot, if this law passes, I'm just gonna draw a mess of big ugly dicks, see if anyone wants to steal that!

[MylCreates]

hehe they just might XD I could just see it now, driving down the highway with your image on the billboards "Fix your erectile dysfunction today!"

[futureboundentertain]

the more I think about this, the angriers I get...

[keii4ii]

I did not watch the video. However, here is an article on the same topic.
And here is the relevant post on the U.S. Copyright Office's official website. It has a link to the "Notice of Inquiry," which describes the issue. It's a bit of tl;dr... I haven't finished reading the whole thing yet, but I plan to. I also plan to submit my feedback.

The feedback form asks for your input on five specific questions:

1. What are the most significant challenges related to monetizing and/or licensing photographs, graphic artworks, and/or illustrations?
2. What are the most significant enforcement challenges for photographers, graphic artists, and/or illustrators?
3. What are the most significant registration challenges for photographers, graphic artists, and/or illustrators?
4. What are the most significant challenges or frustrations for those who wish to make legal use of photographs, graphic art works, and/or illustrations?
5. What other issues or challenges should the Office be aware of regarding photographs, graphic artworks, and/or illustrations under the Copyright Act?

My initial impression of the proposal, based on a very quick skim-through: this is a bunch of BS, written like they're trying to make it easy for CREATORS to make money off our work... by making it easier for companies to use our work without our knowledge or permission. Ummm, no thanks.

Will definitely be submitting my feedback after I read the whole thing. Will probably read it more than once. I encourage all US-based creators to do the same.

I will post a summary of their Notice of Inquiry after I've read it thoroughly.

[SethJH]

I read the notice of inquiry posted on their website. From my first impression, it seems as though the copyright office is looking for alternative methods to provide protection for photographers/illustrators who produce work in large quantities where individual copyrights would be costly and difficult to enforce. Suggestions such as "group" protection and something about a "centralized hub for photograph transactions". It discusses how pirates can strip the copyright watermark off protected images and redistribute them as "orphan works". It mentions then that these newly "orphaned" works are then difficult for companies to properly acquire rights for so they often just use them freely. It seems to me they're trying to look for a more streamlined and efficient method of copyright protection for prolific artists in this new digital era. I'm not a law student, so perhaps I am interpreting this wrong.

It also seems that they are proposing new limitations on the punishment for companies who use orphaned works after "diligent search in good faith for the original owner of the work". That basically means if a pirate strips the copyright off your image, another company finds the stripped image and wants to use it, tries to look for who made the image and is unsuccessful, decides to use the image anyways, that company won't be punished quite as harshly as they would if they deliberately and knowingly stole your work. Reminiscent of laws regarding merchants unknowingly selling stolen merchandise.

[allenthomas]

And they will STILL steal it, and they will STILL want you to pay to prove that you created drawings. Though that is a hilarious idea.

[elixiadragmire]

I heard a part where he said its already happened in the UK but looking at the UK GOV info I stand hold the copyrights, no signing forms. https://www.gov.uk/copyright/overview

The addition it seems to be that if you work for a company THEY own the artwork (makes sense) and if your commission you own the 'work' but they own the IP. At leash that what I think.
https://www.copyrightservice.co.uk/copyright/p01_uk_copyright_law

[futureboundentertain]

So basically, they want to make everything on the internet public domain because its too much of a hassle for companies to acquire the rights to stuff when its far easier for them to just steal.

[gulpy1189]

Wow, that's a bunch of nonsense. Will definitely share this to get the word out.