Do not want

[air_n_darkness]

Seems there's a bill (technically two) being fast-tracked in Congress that severely alters the way copyright law will work. So far, what I'm reading does not thrill my soul, as it seems to essentially open up any "found" artwork or photos to general use. In theory, it's clarification of Fair Use; in reality...it seems to remove the right of the

Comments

[strangething]

I think a found works law is necessary. There's a huge volume of material with ambiguous copyright status, gathering dust and rotting, since no one can say for certain that it's not under copyright protection.

How it's going to pan out is hard to say. It depends on the requirements of a "reasonably diligent search" for the copyright holder. If a work is signed, it shouldn't be hard to find the creator.

unless they officially register the work as "theirs."

This is against the Berne convention. By international law, a work is protected from the moment it's created, no registration required.

Perhaps, after I'm dead, my heirs might miss out on licensing fees due to this law.

ACk!

[uglygrandmother]

This effectively negates most art copyrights, and if it does, then it won't be long before every OTHER copyright is worthless!

[marius_98]

Ok. Time to break out my major. I have a degree in music business. This will NOT pass. The US will get kicked out of the Geneva Convention if it does. The Geneva Convention states that to be a member country formalities cannot be required for copyright. Same as the Berne convention.