it's just another social virus thats being spread through everyones little minds that this is something that exists today. Who ever started up this shit is either a complete idiot because they dont to research or is an even bigger idiot if they ignored that and decided to just spread un-true crap all over the internet.
of course its probably not your fault if you read this:
[link]
ageone&article_no=3605&

age=1 because that's the guys fault for doing his own research
as quoted from
[link]"1. There was a bill about "Orphan Works" up before congress in 2006. This bill did deal with copyright and the treatment of "abandoned" works of art. The bill was not, however, being backed by Bill Gates, was not a plot between Bill Gates and the government to steal art or legalize art theft, and did not require artists to register their copyrights. (Requiring copyright registration is illegal.)
2. The actual subject of the bill was an
attempted solution to the problem of orphaned art, art that has no owner, either because the owner has deliberately abandoned it, or because the owner is unknown. To simplify it, the bill was basically saying that if somebody finds a work of art, and makes every possible effort to locate and contact the original artist, and cannot do so, then they have a legal right to use that art, and cannot be taken to court for doing so. This has the potential for abuse, yes, but I really would prefer it, in that case, if people would discuss the real issue, and not the boondoggle of legalizing art theft, which was not the intended purpose of the bill at all.
3.
The bill failed to pass.4. There was a subcommittee hearing to consider a similar bill for this current session of congress, but it fizzled and nothing happened.
There is still some legitimate concern about this bill possibly turning up again; however, a.) the bill isn't nearly so awful as that article claims, and b.) it also may never come up again, while there ARE many bills that we ought to concern ourselves with that ARE currently being debated in congress.
I really dislike this sort of thing, and while I know that people who re-post these kinds of articles are very well meaning and just want to warn their friends,
I honestly wish more people would research this kind of thing before passing it along just on the say-so of some guy on the internet. It causes so much concern and worry and wasted effort that could be spent on real issues and not on boogeymen.
First sources:
The text of the bill itself:
[link]
(You'll need to click the "continue to GPO site" link to get it.)A report about the situation that inspired the bill from the US Copyright office:
[link]I have seen one legit article mentioning the return of this bill, here:
[link]However,
the bill is NOT listed for the current session of congress.[link] is where you can look up current legislation."
not saying I didnt believe it.... but obviously i didnt join the band wagon and start posting shit here on dA. I first talked to my dad about it, (him knowing MANY of the congressmen) and then told my dear friend ~
Frikin-ChibiiconFrikin-Chibi: : about it, whom which did her homework. (Good Maria~ -pats-)
now you all post journals saying you're sorry for NOT doing your homework
just goes to show that the quote is true:
"When we assume it makes an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'."
I swear to god...