APA was asked to support the efforts of the excellent negotiating team, PPA Executive Director David Trust, ASMP Counsel Victor Perlman, and Counsel for PACA, Steve Metalitz. The negotiation team has met twice with House staffers in a "closed door meeting held under House rules of confidentiality," according to ASMP Executive Director, Gene Mopsik. APA proudly affirms its support of the negotiating team and has authorized use of the organization's name among those officially backing the team's exceptional efforts at the negotiating table.
APA has also joined CAPA, a newly formed Coalition of Artists and Picture Archives, whose mission is to "preserve the legal rights of artists and picture archives toward shared goals," according to Jeff Sedlik. Focusing wholly on Orphan Works at this time, CAPA is an interim collective of organizations who wish to formalize their commitment to change this formidable legislation before it becomes law.
Photographers comprise only a small portion of the much larger group of visual artists, including illustrators, graphic artists, textile artists, fine artists, and others, who will be adversely affected by the Orphan Works amendment, the efforts of this auxiliary coalition will be to expand the voice to this wider circle. CAPA will complement the efforts of the negotiation team and be empowered to take actions not possible by the team for reasons of confidentiality with respect to their negotiations.
Photographers of all organizations should contact their association leaders to ensure that their organization will participate in this focused and important alliance. Recognizing the power in numbers and with hundreds of visual arts associations representing tens of thousands of artists, the key to effective lobbying against this amendment is organization.
APA has been involved in Orphan Works discussions since 2000 when APA members Jeff Sedlik and John Harrington began making rounds on Capitol Hill.
PDF A Detailed Explaination
Photo Caption-Photo provided by John Harrington
APA National Executive Director Constance Evans discusses Orphan Works amendment on behalf of APA members with Rep. Lamar Smith, Chair, House Subcommittee on Intellectual Property at the March 8, 2006 House Oversight Hearing in Washington DC.
