Orphan Works

Dear Colleague:
As you may already know, the U.S. Copyright Office is soliciting formal comments from the public on the problem of "orphan" works (http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2005/70fr3739.html). The College Art Association has joined the Association of Research Libraries and a number of other groups to develop a joint filing. If successful, this initiative could significantly help artists, scholars, and others who use copyrighted images and texts in their creations and writings. CAA is moving forward quickly with this task- with a very short deadline: March 14, 2005. In order to make a strong case to the Copyright Office, we need anecdotes - as many as you can think of - about specific instances where scholars or artists have had difficulty using copyrighted materials because the copyright holder cannot be located.
CAA has created a webpage, describing the initiative and asking for personal anecdotes or experiences from scholars and artists. The webpage includes a question and answer submission form. You do not need to be a member of CAA to complete this submission form. The page is located at http://www.collegeart.org/orphan-works/ I urge you to visit the webpage and add your personal anecdotes about your experiences with "orphan" works and their effects on your creative endeavors. Please also feel free to send this page to as many people as you know who may have been affected by the inaccessibility of a rights holder. Should you have any questions about this initiative, please feel free to contact me. In case you are not familiar with the College Art Association, here's some background information:
Founded in 1911, the College Art Association...
* Promotes excellence in scholarship and teaching in the history and
criticism of the visual arts and in creativity and technical skill in the teaching and practices of art.
* Facilitates the exchange of ideas and information among those
interested in art and history of art.
* Advocates comprehensive and inclusive education in the visual arts.

• Speaks for the membership on issues affecting the visual arts and humanities.
• Provides opportunities for publication of scholarship, criticism, and artists' writings.
• Fosters career development and professional advancement. Identifies and develops sources of funding for the practice of art and for scholarship in the arts and humanities.
• Honors accomplishments of artists, art historians, and critics.
• Articulates and affirms the highest ethical standards in the conduct of the profession. CAA includes among its members those who by vocation or avocation are concerned about and/or committed to the practice of art, teaching, and research of and about the visual arts and humanities. Over 13,000 artists, art historians, scholars, curators, collectors, educators, art publishers, and other visual arts professionals are individual members. Another 2,000 university art and art history departments, museums, libraries, and professional and commercial organizations hold institutional memberships. The association is governed by a 25 person Board of Directors, elected by the membership, representing the fields' diverse constituencies and geographic regions. Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in art, art history, or a related discipline, whether by vocation or avocation. CAA encourages the inclusion among its constituencies of qualified individuals representing a diversity of race, religion, gender, national origin, sexual preference, physical disability, and age in employment, education, exhibition, programmatic opportunities, and the awarding of grants and prizes in the public and private art sectors. College Art Association 275 Seventh Avenue New York, New York 10001 (212) 691 - 1051 (212) 627 - 2381 (fax) Email: nyoffice[_at_]collegeart.org

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Christine L. Sundt
Visual Resources Curator
University of Oregon
Architecture & Allied Arts Library
Lawrence Hall - Room 300
1190 Franklin Boulevard
Eugene, OR 97403-5239 - U.S.A.

v: 541/346-2209
f: 541/346-2205
email: csundt[_at_]uoregon.edu (or csundt[_at_]mindspring.com) Copyright & Art Issues - http://uoregon.edu/~csundt/copyweb/ Received on Thu Mar 03 2005 - 21:45:30 GMT