(via the Illustrators Partnership of America)

Artists and advocates should act now to protect the future of copyright!

Congress is considering a new bill to change the way the head of the Copyright Office is appointed. It scheduled for a Rule's Committee meeting today and will likely be voted on by the House in the next few days. From there it will move to the Senate.

Under the new legislation - H.R. 1695 - the Register of Copyrights would be nominated by the President subject to confirmation by the Senate. Currently, the Register of Copyrights is appointed by the Librarian of Congress, serves under the Librarian, and as we saw last November, can be removed at will by the Librarian.

Why does this matter?

• On October 21, 2016, the previous Register of Copyrights was summarily removed by the newly-appointed Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden.
• Dr. Hayden is a well-known promoter of Open Access, and appears committed to the goal of making Internet content free.
• Many in the creative community believe she was appointed because she is a political activist whose views would serve the interests of the Big Internet firms currently lobbying for open access, orphan works legislation, etc.

Call to Action! Protecting your copyright is as important as ever!

Once again, your copyright is under threat. Everyone, not just US citizens, need to respond by January 31, 2017, to a short survey created by the Librarian of Congress asking what duties the new Register of Copyright’s primary skills and duties should be.

Be advised, this is not just an innocent request. The APA National, the Copyright Alliance (pdf), Jim Pickerell's Selling Stock, and DMLA Councel, Nancy Wolff all published notice and helpful sample responses to the Librarian's request. Please read them.

We direct your attention, in particular, to the Illustrators Partnership analysis of the survey request.

The Illustrators Partnership followed up with thoughtful advice on how to respond intelligently and effectively to the Librarian's survey. You can read that advice here or continue below, as we have republished it in its entirety.

Update! The Illustrators Partnership added new information and a sample PDF you can use as a guide to add a personal note to your submission.
http://ipaorphanworks.blogspot.com/2017/01/reminder-protect-your-copyrights.html

A Standing Ovation for Innovation

The first-ever Fujifilm Award for Innovation at Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2017 

Image credit: © Krishanu Chatterjee

Innovation is the watchword!

For the very first time, the Fujifilm Award for Innovation will be presented at the world-famous Mall Galleries, London in April 2017, at the Champagne Taittinger Awards evening for Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year, the world’s leading awards celebrating food photography and film. 

This highly prestigious award will be given for a single image chosen from the 2017 shortlist – over 400 images selected from an overall entry of many thousands from across the world. In 2016, more than 7000 images were entered from 60 countries as entrants competed for the much-coveted overall crown.

Photo credit: ©Miriam NiceNow that the holidays are over, we wish to remind you the closing date for entries is 5 February, so there’s still time to get snapping for Pink Lady® Food Photographer of the Year 2017, the world’s most prestigious celebration of all that is special and significant about food photography and film.

The competition is open to everyone - professional and amateur, young and old - from across the world and boasts a prize pool worth almost 20,000 GBP. The overall winner scoops the crown and 5,000 GBP, two nights’ accommodation at the Intercontinental London Park Lane, a host of commercial opportunities, global publicity and worldwide recognition.

The awards have a wide range of categories, including Food for Celebration sponsored by Champagne Taittinger, Partridges Food for Sale, Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year, unearthed® Food in Film supported by delicious for film shorts and, new for 2017, Intercontinental London Park Lane Food at the Table, World Food Programme Food for Life, Startisans Food in the Street, BBC Good Food Fresh Talent Award, The FujiFilm Award for Innovation and Individual Restaurants Cream of the Crop.