Copy + pasted from NCB:
This is very important information for everyone who posts their art and self-created images, songs, and videos on the internet. If you read this, please take a moment to at least pass it on to all of your artist friends. It's that important.
Currently in congress is a Orphan Works bill that would allow ANYONE to take your images that have not been registered with specific agencies and put them to their own use. They don't have to pay you or notify you of it. Meaning that if the picture you just posted today wasn't registered and your copyright logo is not placed on it, then it becomes an orphan work and free for any company or person to use and make money off of. Instantly
To prevent that from happening, every single image, sketch, photo, piece of art, song, and video you present to the public has to be registered individually for a PRICE. This includes all the works you are currently displaying as well.
Look at the creative works currently sitting in your DevArt, Flickr, Photobucket, or YouTube accounts or on your various websites and blogs -- which could be anywhere from a couple dozen to over a thousand. Now imagine having to spend the time and MONEY registering them so that someone else can't make money off your work FOR FREE. Imagine the add expense if you're trying to make a living at selling your work, or the perpetual black hole if you just share it as a hobby.
If you don't register, this bill would also allow for other people to register your creations as their own and then turn and sue you for using them.
In fact, registring your work doesn't completely protect it either.
Right now, just the act of creating your art protects it under Creative Commons. You made it and so it's yours. But if this bill goes through, it won't belong to you anymore.
The full article is here:
[link]Orphan Works Resource Page:
[link]US Officials you can contact to protest this bill:
[link]
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