We won a reprieve from this disaster last year. It will be harder this year. ACT NOW to prevent a major attack on YOUR copyright protections:

FORWARDED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE ILLUSTRATORS' PARTNERSHIP

Take Action: Don't Let Congress Orphan Your Work

THE ORPHAN WORKS BILL IS BACK.

And this time the wheels have been greased for quick passage.

Yesterday a revived Orphan Works Bill sailed through a House panel. Today the
Senate bill will be marked up. These bills will expose any work of art to
commercial infringement.This will include everything from professional paintings
to personal photos placed on the net.

The bills will coerce you to register your work with for-profit registries as a
condition of protecting your copyrights. Any unregistered pictures will be
subject to Orphan Works infringement. This is a radical departure from
international copyright law and normal business practice.

If you wish to oppose this legislation, you must act now. We've set up an online
site for anyone to e-mail their Senators and Representatives with one click.
This site is open to professional artists, photographers and any member of the
image-making public.

We've provided sample letters from individuals representing different sectors of
the visual arts. Illustrators, photographers, fine artists, reps, licensing
firms, designers: If you're opposed to the Orphan Works act, this site is yours
to use.

2 minutes is all it takes to write Congress and fight for your copyrights.
Go here: <a href="http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/" target="_blank">http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/</a>

Pick a sample letter or write your own. Type in your zip code. Your letter will
be automatically addressed to your congressman and senators. Click and send.

For international artists and our colleagues overseas, we've provided a special
link, with a sample letter and instructions as to whom to write.

For more information about the

Orphan Works Act of 2008:
IPA Statement to House Subcommittee March 20, 2008:

<a href="http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00261" target="_blank">http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00261</a>

IPA Senate Mark-up Comments April 30, 2008:

<a href="http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs" target="_blank">http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/ow_docs</a>

Geneva/ May 7, 2008 Orphan Works Bill Catches Global Attention/ Intellectual
Property
Watch: <a href="http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1028" target="_blank">http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/index.php?p=1028</a>

MP3 Interview: <a href="http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html" target="_blank">http://www.sellyourtvconceptnow.com/orphan.html</a>

YouTube: <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqBZd0cP5Yc" target="_blank">http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqBZd0cP5Yc</a>

Please post this message or forward it to any interested party.