This bill is supported by ASMP. Copyright claims might be getting a little easier for photographers. Legislation proposed by Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act of 2017 (CASE) would streamline the federal copyright small claims process, reducing cost of litigation and limiting friction in the copyright claims process for photographers. Read the rest at Light Stalking.
Today, the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) announced its support for a bill introduced by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to create a small claims court within the Copyright Office—ASMP’s top legislative priority. The “Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2017” (the “CASE Act”) is also cosponsored by Representatives Tom Marino (R-PA), Lamar Smith (R-TX), Doug Collins (R-GA), Judy Chu (D-CA) and Ted Lieu (DCA). Tom Kennedy, Executive Director of ASMP stated that “the introduction…
[By Mickey H. Osterreicher, Esq.] A number of years ago, the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) was an associational plaintiff in a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security regarding the suspicionless searches of laptops and other media storage devices belonging to citizens and, as importantly, to journalists entering the U.S. Unfortunately, the judge, in that case, could not wrap his head around the concept that such devices are far different than searching a suitcase…
image: walkingcanuks Cross-posted from thefashionlaw.com In the midst of the chaos of the Spring/Summer 2018 runway shows and Versace’s blow-out finale on Friday evening, it appears that for a while now, there has been something of an unspoken battle simmering between some of fashion’s biggest brands and influencers, and a handful of the street style photographers who have had a hand in helping to make them so famous. Unspoken until-very recently, that is. Read…
Today, Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and a leading and ardent supporter of legislation to create a copyright small claims court took a tour of Photoville, the annual outdoor photography festival at Brooklyn Bridge Park showcasing the creative efforts of many professional photographers. ASMP, through the efforts of its executive director, Tom Kennedy, arranged the tour, and was joined on it by local NY Chapter members and representatives…
ASMP Executive Director, Tom Kennedy, and ASMP Outside Counsel, Mike Klipper, were in New York today to meet with Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and ASMPNY member constituents led by ASMPNY Chapter President, Thomas Donley, to further the discussion about the need for copyright reform in protecting the rights of content creators represented in New York and across the United States by ASMP. Additional information will be posted shortly about meeting with Representative Jeffries and the tour of Photoville, along with a summary of…
As the August recess unfolds for Congress, we continue to move forward with plans for a grassroots campaign to lobby Representatives on the House Judiciary Committee. As a next step, we want to identify ASMP members who might have direct relationships with the House Judiciary Members. In addition, I’d like to identify members at the local chapter level who may have an interest in being part of an ASMP political action committee to arrange in-person meetings with Representatives…
The House Judiciary Committee is making progress on its plans to pursue a multi-part copyright reform proposal that includes a provision to enact a permanent small claims copyright court. As previously reported, the small claims component is designed to provide photographers and other individual creators plagued by copyright infringements with a viable, cost effective alternative to the burdensome and prohibitively expensive federal court litigation route. As promised by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and senior Democrat…
ASMP joins the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA), along with other organizations, in a statement to express their objections to alleged actions by Sargeant in Arms Larkin, Capitol Police Chief Verderosa, and other US Capitol police officers reported to have interfered with and threatened journalists reporting on matters of public concern at the Capitol on July 25, 2017. If, as reported, officers ordered journalists to “delete images” of this incident, this action raises significant legal concerns both…
© ASMP Member Martha Lochert With the recent announcement of the approved funding by the full House Appropriations Committee of $145 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for FY 2018, ASMP strongly urges Congress to approve the proposed NEA funding for 2018. While ASMP notes that this funding approval does not support the full amount of $155 million that was initially sought by a bi-partisan majority of House members, this initial approval goes far in making it known that the…