Home  >  News  >  Special announcements  > Announcement

ASMP presents special citation award to Register of Copyrights

The American Society of Media Photographers, ASMP, has presented a special citation to the Register of Copyrights, Marybeth Peters, for her “exemplary fairness to photographers” and for her courageous stand on behalf of independent creators for many years.

The award was presented to Ms Peters by ASMP president Dave Harp at ASMP’s annual Bradshaw Leadership Conference in Aspen, Colo., on May 5 where the more than 100 conference attendees gave her a lengthy standing ovation.

Harp said that the ASMP gave the award to Ms Peters for her “having shown exemplary fairness to photographers in her handling of copyright issues and for demonstrating remarkable integrity and courage in her positions taken on our behalf.” He praised her efforts on behalf of all photographers and commented that every freelance creator should applaud her for those efforts.

ASMP executive director Richard Weisgrau, who has known and worked with Ms Peters since 1991, told the conference group that Ms Peters’ contributions to copyrights holders were numerous and it was due to her support of ASMP that the Society was able to work so closely with the Copyright Office. He outlined how she had written an excellent legal treatise on her position in the New York Times v. Tasini case in response to Congressman McGovern (D. Mass.) who had sought her opinion. That request enabled Ms Peters to go on record with a compelling document supporting authors in the Tasini case.

Subsequently, her opinion was quoted in the U.S. Supreme Court when the case was heard by that court in March. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor pointed out that the federal copyright office sided with the freelancers, a comment that could not have been made had Ms Peters’ opinion not been on public record.

“Marybeth’s paper was 100 percent supportive of ASMP’s position and it introduced compelling arguments and evidence that had not previously been made. In short, it was a remarkable effort, not only because of its quality, but also because she had the integrity and courage to write it without concern for the likely political ramifications. Publishers were not be happy with her action and I know she had taken a lot a flak for it. This is one very courageous woman and we should be very thankful she’s on our side,” said Weisgrau, a comment which brought thunderous applause.

In her response, Ms Peters said that she held ASMP in very high regard, and emphasized the key role that Dick Weisgrau and ASMP managing director and general counsel Victor Perlman had played in developing a close and productive working relationship. She told the conference that she admired photographers and their creativity and she would continue to do everything she could to protect their interests and would encourage development of improved systems and regulations by the Copyright Office to facilitate simpler copyright registration procedures.

Note: Ms. Peters’ opinion in Tasini case, which delves into various aspects of the Copyright Act, and explains why legislative history backs up her views supporting authors can be seen in its entirety here.