I don't know how many of you here know anything about art copyright issues, but now would be a very good time to start taking an interest. A new legislation is currently in debate that if it is approved will mean that all artists will lose the rights to their own work. At present every painting you create is automatically protected by a copyright legislation so that other people cannot copy or use your image for their own gain without your permission. If this new bill is passed then every painting you create or have created in the past will be up for grabs. That means that every time you produce a new painting you will have to go and get it registered at a copyright office before you own the rights to it. Also, if a company can prove that it has done a reasonable search for your work and has not found an official copyright protection that you have filed and paid for, your work is theirs again to use as they wish.
If this new Orphan Works legislation is passed, it will cost artists thousands and could see the end of forums like this as everyone will be trying to keep their work private so that it isn't stolen.
Although the Orphan Works legislation only applies to the US, it is something we need to stamp out as quickly as possible; even if you are outside the US (like me) please get involved. This issue has the whole online art community in turmoil and uproar, and because it is being backed by large corporations like google and microsoft (who have a LOT to gain if this is passed) it is sailing through congress. As such, everybody needs to do their bit to stop this taking place.
Please help to stop the Orphan Works legislation being passed:
http://capwiz.com/illustratorspartnership/home/
This link will take you to the illustrators partnership who have been largely representing the art community in trying to halt this act, and there are links there to help stop this appalling act being passed.
