Orphan Works News

A comprehensive site to explore the legislation.

The Orphan Works copyright legislation introduced in the 110th Congress failed to pass, and at this time is considered dead. We expect an Orphan Works bill to be introduced in the 111th Congress, possibly some time during 2009. It remains to be seen whether either of the 2008 bills will be reintroduced as written, or new legislation with new terms will be introduced. That said, please consider all our information about the 2008 bills to be specific to that failed legislation, and not necessarily the terms of a new bill. 

The Orphan Works legislation considered by Congress in 2008 provoked a storm of criticism in the artistic community. Much of the controversy was deliberately sparked by widely circulated misinformation. The Graphics Artist Guild is compelled by its mission to distribute accurate specifics about the proposed legislation in order to serve artists of all kinds and to promote unity as we confront this serious challenge to our industry and the well being of the individuals within it. To that end, we created a mini-site to explain, elucidate and discuss the various controversial and practical aspects of the legislation and what it means to artists. Click here to jump to it.  

Visitors will find the latest developments on this site as we continue the lobbying efforts we began in 2005 to ensure the best possible outcome for this legislation. The comprehensive documentation included on this site is designed to meet your informational needs. The features here include: 

Legislation – The full text versions of the bills in the Senate and House of Representatives  

Lobbying – This page details the intense lobbying efforts the Guild has engaged in with Congress for years. Papers written by our intellectual property lawyer and lobbyist are available here. These papers were submitted to congressional leadership as they deliberated the provisions of the bills. 

Myths & Facts – Answers to some of the most common misunderstandings about the legislation details and what options are available to us now. 

Our Position – The Graphic Artists Guild’s position and long-term involvement with government officials at all levels and other stakeholders. 

OW Timeline – An overview of the events and responses of the Guild as one of the earliest defenders of artists’ rights among leadership in the Copyright Office and Congress.  

Press Releases – The Guild issued a press release opposing the bill approved by the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee. Look to this section for additional press releases as the situation develops.