Go Congress!

[Fishalicious]

I wish I were joking; I wish I could look at the calendar and see it's April 1st. It's not.

Art is in danger. It's not that the U.S. is trying to make drawing illegal, but for some ** reason, the U.S. Congress is trying to pass the "Orphaned Works Bill," in which we artists lose our copyright.

Er, to make things clear, the way copyrights work in the U.S. currently is that we draw a picture, and it is automatically copyrighted and protected by the law. If someone takes our art, it's illegal and we can sue them.

But now, this "Orphaned Works Bill" forces artists to register their work to be protected. To register our work gives us back a copyright. Mind you, we have to register EVERY picture. And did I mention it costs money?

Yes, that's right. We have to pay for our art to be protected. Oh, but even if we do pay to get a copyright, then we're still in danger.

In the court of law, if you're accused of art theft, all you have to do is say, "Oh, well I just couldn't get a hold of the artist."

And then you're set free. This bill... it means that artists have no power over their work.

Now, you may think that it really only applies to me in the forums; I draw an awful lot and have become quite good at it over the years. But no, TDC.

It doesn't matter if you live in Europe, Canada, or Bolivia. It doesn't matter if you can't speak English (and no, JDog, I'm not counting you in there), or if you don't know anything about the U.S.

It doesn't matter if you write, it doesn't matter if you draw, it doesn't matter if all you do artistically is manipulate photos. Those are all in danger of no longer being yours.

Yes, HNS, your writing won't be yours anymore. Anyone can take it. Yes, Tacheon, even your signature can be taken and claimed as your own. Yes, JQ, even your painting are in trouble, even if they're not on the internet.

It applies to MUSIC. It applies to LITERATURE.

Guess what, JDog? Your favourite bands could very easily have their music stolen from them and no one could say anything. Disturbed's "Stricken" could be sung by some crappy country singer, and everyone would say "OMG HES SO GOOD I LUV HIS LYRIKS!"

Oh, and everyone on HA2?

Your characters can be stolen and used as crappy fast food mascots. "Come eat at Saber's Fried Chicken!" This also means people in America could take Zelda and make rip-off games of it. Of Silent Hill. Of Ratchet and Clank. Of BioShock.

And no one could do crap about it.

I found this out from this person's deviantART journal.

There's not really much we can do unless the bill is released, because THEN the congress will listen to us. /: As if they'd ever listen.

But please, spread the word. We artists, no, everyone is in danger! I'd hate to see any of us on these forums fall victim to this. I'd hate to see TP Zelda's pictures of herself being used to advertise pornography. I'd hate to see Tacheon's photomanips being used to advertise something stupid. I'd hate to see JQ's art ripped off and sold for thousands by some stupid art thief. I'd hate to see Shika's HA2 character used to advertise a fast food restraunt. I'd hate to see HNS's writings published in a book and sold, with no profit to him.

And I'd definitely hate to lose my job.

[Keaton]

On the one hand, that would totally suck.

On the other, think of all the positive ramifications of that... for us.

YouTube could never be sued.

You'd never have to pay money for music, downloading wouldn't be illegal.

Prostitution would be legal.
(no it wouldn't... damn)

I mean, those are probably reasons why it would be worse, from the artist's standpoint.  And I'd really hate to be art-jacked.  It won't pass, but if it does... I'm going back to Russia.

[Fishalicious]

The problem is, even if you're in Russia, the law still effects you in the way that Americans can still use your art however they please...

The Orphaned Works bill was meant to help museums get ahold of works in which they can't find the copyright, but apparently the Congress doesn't understand that.

[Keaton]

I see.

Well, ****.

[Hi no Seijin]

I'm going to have to agree with Tacheon's "Well, ****" statement.  Here's to hoping it doesn't pass.

[DW]

Why would they even consider this bill? It doesn't make sense in the slightest! On the other hand, I'd love to have Saber be famous.

[Keaton]

But he wouldn't be your Saber.  He'd be mine.

DIBS!

[Fishalicious]

Alright, I found this, which sort of rationalises the situation.

Of course, this makes me feel better because that means my stuff is still copyrighted. However, it doesn't protect anyone else on the forums, except for the select few on FF.net and DA.

I guess my best advice would be that if you draw, try and leave a watermark/signature on whatever you do.

[Keaton]

Well, damn.

Now I'll really have to actually incorporate my graphics 'company'.

[Hi no Seijin]

Well, that makes me feel slightly better.

[darkphantomime]

Holy hell! That's still terrible!

Oh wait, never mind. I feel much lesss devastated now that I've read it.

[DW]

So I'm going to have to leave my mark on everything I make? Hmm...Oh Saber!

*Picks up branding iron*

[Hi no Seijin]

Just use something different on Burlo.  Don't want him to burst into flames, now do we?

[DW]

I suppose I could get him a tattoo. Just not on his torso or he'd burst.

[Gamefreak]

It seems that the owner of VGCats is in the same corner as you Lovely Rita.