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For more information, contact:
Eugene Mopsik, Executive Director
American Society of Media Photographers
Phone (215) 451-2767
Email mopsik@asmp.org
ASMP Asks Legislative Action On Hr 683
ASMP is concerned about bill HR 683 now pending in the Senate. If it is passed without amendment, the law might encourage trademark owners to be overly aggressive in suppressing photos that contain their marks.
Fortunately, photographers have a chance to make a difference. Contact the Senators on the Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee about H.R. 683, the "Trademark Dilution Revision Act of 2005." Ask them to restore the exception for non-commercial use of a trademark because, otherwise, the bill would result in your receiving unjustified legal threats and pressure from trademark owners to prevent you from showing their trademarks in your photographs.
You can email your letter to each Senator by following the links below. If one of these Senators represents your state, they will pay extra attention to your opinion, but all of them need to hear from you. You should also contact your state's Senators as well, in case the bill comes to a vote before the full Senate.
We do not want to recommend a model statement for you to build on. Capitol staffers quickly learn to recognize when they are the targets of organized lobbying campaigns, and they discount such letters. It is better to compose your own letter, in your own style. Simply state what action you are asking for and explain why it is important to you.
More info about the bill, along with a copy of the letter that ASMP's General Counsel has sent to the Subcommittee, is posted on the ASMP web site (www.asmp.org).
The bill has already passed the House and is now before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. It is impossible to predict when the Subcommittee will bring it to a vote, so we recommend that you contact the Senators soon.
Here are the Senators' email addresses (web forms):
Hon. Orrin G. Hatch, chair
http://hatch.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Offices.Contact
Hon. Arlen Specter
http://specter.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInfo.Home
Hon. Jon L. Kyl
http://kyl.senate.gov/contact.cfm
Hon. Mike DeWine
http://dewine.senate.gov/request_form.cfm
Hon. Lindsey O. Graham
http://lgraham.senate.gov/index.cfm?mode=contactform
Hon. John Cornyn
http://cornyn.senate.gov/contact/index.html
Hon. Sam Brownback
http://brownback.senate.gov/CMEmailMe.cfm
Hon. Tom Coburn
http://coburn.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
Hon. Patrick J. Leahy
http://leahy.senate.gov/contact.html
Hon. Edward M. Kennedy
http://kennedy.senate.gov/contact.html
Hon. Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
http://biden.senate.gov/contact/emailjoe.cfm
Hon. Diane Feinstein
http://feinstein.senate.gov/email.html
Hon. Herbert H. Kohl
http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html
Hon. Richard J. Durbin
http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm#contact
About ASMP
Founded in 1944, the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the leading trade association for photographers who photograph primarily for publication. ASMP promotes photographers' rights, educates photographers in better business practices, produces business publications for photographers, and helps buyers find professional photographers. It has more than 5,000 members, including many of the world's greatest photographers, in 40 chapters nationwide.