One senator has hold on CASE Act bill

One senator has hold on CASE Act bill

One Senator put a hold on the CASE Act bill S.1273. Better known as the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act. With bi-partisan support the bill would allow photographers along with other artistic creators the benefit of small claims settlement of copyright infringement. Currently, the only recourse for theft of images is to go to federal court. Federal court is impossibly expensive for a small business.

 Thousands of photographers recently raised their index finger in unison to protest Senator Wyden’s hold on a bi-partisan bill that would help all small artists.

CASE Act

Right now a photographer or other artistic creator who has work stolen from them have no recourse. If someone is using your photography image without your permission it has to be adjudicated in Federal Court. This can run well over $300,000.

Professional Photographers of America CEO David Trust said, “ It’s not fair! If I were to go in a store and steal a $1.25 candy bar (not that I would do that, by the way) the owner could call the police. If someone steals a thousand, or five thousand dollars, worth of imagery from a photographic artist there is no recourse within the current copyright system. Passing the CASE Act would give photographers and other creators a small claims option.”

What can you do to help?

You can help put pressure on Senator Wyden to lift his hold and let the bill come to the floor for a vote. Take a picture of yourself holding up one finger (index finger please) with a serious look on your face. Not a scolding look or angry look, just serious. Post this image to all your social media accounts with the hashtags #justone and #caseact.

Also ask your voting age friends, fellow artists and art groups, and other parties who are interested in seeing artists have a fair system in place weigh in.

Contact Senator Wyden

You can contact Senator Wyden’s office asking that he lift the hold as well. E-mail your comments on legislation here https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/email-ron Oregon offices: Portland: 911 NE 11th Ave., Ste 630, Portland OR 97232; 503-326-7525. Salem: 707 13th St, SE, Ste 285, Salem, OR 97301, 503-589-4555.

Add your voice to the thousands letting Senator Wyman of Oregon know that he needs to release his hold on the bill. Learn what you can do to help and see more of the story in my previous post.

Yours in Creative Photography,     Bob

photographer copyright

photographer copyright

Copyright Protection for Photographers

Ever found an image of yours being used without being paid for it?

I’ll bet you have. Whether it was a portrait client making prints from scans of your images or someone lifting a photograph from your website and using it without permission. Wait a minute, we all know as soon as you press the shutter button you own the copyright to the image, right? Right!

That’s true. But, professional photographers have long been left out of the copyright system. Legislation is underway for a Small Claims Process that will give photographers an equal seat at the copyright table!

Get the basic story in the video below.

Unless the infringement is more than $30,000 you won’t be able to defend your copyright in court.
And that sucks!

Professional Photographers of America has been on Capitol Hill lobbying legislators to help creators be able to have a small claims court option for protection of their work.

copyright helpAnd now YOU can help! It’s easy but necessary for all creatives to get involved.

Join the Grassroots team to be part of getting the legislation passed. http://ppa.com/grassroots

You do not have to be a PPA member, or even a photographer, to be part of this copyright protection for ALL visual artists. Sign in to see how you can help. It won’t take much of your time. Encourage all of your photographer and artist friends to be part of this historic legislation. There probably won’t be a chance like this again in our lifetime. Everyone is needed to contact congress about how important it is to implement this small claims system

Everyone is needed to contact congress about how important it is to implement this small claims system. Add your voice to help protect your rights and livelihood.

Yours in Creative Photography,     Bob

PS – Please share this post with ALL creative artists