[mla-nynj] FW: MLA Action Alert on Orphan Works Legislation

[Robb Mackes]

Posting for Mahnaz...
 
rtm
 


________________________________

From: Mahnaz Tehrani [mailto:mtehrani at nyit.edu] 
Sent: Thursday, 08 May, 2008 12:28
To: mla-nynj
Subject: MLA Action Alert on Orphan Works Legislation


Dear Members,

I would like to share the following message that was sent by Mary
Langman. It's a call to support the orphan works legislation. Below you
can view additional information and the list of the senators to contact.

Thanks,
Mahnaz Tehrani
************************************************************************
*****************************************
MLA ACTION ALERT ~ MAY 8, 2008

CALLS NEEDED TO SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE OPPOSING " DARK ARCHIVE "
PROVISION OF ORPHAN WORKS ACT

 
BACKGROUND

The Senate Judiciary Committee plans to mark-up the Shawn Bentley Orphan
Works Act of 2008 (S. 2913) the week of May 12th.  MLA and the library
associations have supported the need for orphan works legislation
although we have raised a number of concerns with the bill. Our most
pressing concern before next week's mark-up is that we unequivocally
oppose any effort to amend S. 2913 to include the "dark archive"
provision of H.R. 5889 or other weakening amendments. 

IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED 

If your Senator is listed below as a member of the Judiciary Committee,
please make a call immediately, through the Capitol Switchboard at
202-224-3121 or their district office. If your Senator is not listed
below, please call the bill's sponsors, Senators Patrick Leahy and Orrin
Hatch.  

Following are talking points:   

The Orphan Works Act is needed by libraries to limit remedies in
copyright infringement cases involving orphan works. However, I strongly
oppose the notice of use filing (the "dark archive") provision in the
House bill, H.R. 5889, because it would limit the usefulness of the
legislation by significantly increasing the cost of compliance. I urge
you to reject the inclusion of the "dark archive" provision of H.R. 5889
during Thursday's mark-up of S. 2913.  

Also attached is a fact sheet that provides additional information about
MLA's position on orphan works.


LIST OF SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMERS

DEMOCRATS:

Patrick Leahy, Chair
D-VERMONT

Edward M. Kennedy
<http://kennedy.senate.gov> D-MASSACHUSETTS 

Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
<http://biden.senate.gov> D-DELAWARE

Richard J. Durbin
<http://durbin.senate.gov> D-ILLINOIS 

Charles E. Schumer <http://schumer.senate.gov> 
D-NEW YORK

Herb Kohl
<http://kohl.senate.gov> D-WISCONSIN 

Dianne Feinstein
<http://feinstein.senate.gov> D-CALIFORNIA 

Russell D. Feingold
<http://feingold.senate.gov> D-WISCONSIN 

Benjamin L. Cardin <http://cardin.senate.gov> 
D-MARYLAND 

Sheldon Whitehouse 
<http://whitehouse.senate.gov> D-RHODE ISLAND 

REPUBLICANS:

Arlen Specter <http://specter.senate.gov> , Ranking Member 
R-PENNSYLVANIA

Orrin G. Hatch
R-UTAH

Jeff Sessions
<http://sessions.senate.gov> R-ALABAMA

Charles E. Grassley
<http://grassley.senate.gov> R-IOWA

Lindsey Graham
<http://lgraham.senate.gov> R-SOUTH CAROLINA

Jon Kyl
<http://kyl.senate.gov> R-ARIZONA

John Cornyn
<http://cornyn.senate.gov> R-TEXAS

Sam Brownback
<http://brownback.senate.gov/> R-KANSAS

Tom Coburn
<http://coburn.senate.gov/> R-OKLAHOMA



Mary M. Langman, Coordinator
Information Issues and Policy
Medical Library Association
65 E. Wacker Pl., Ste. 1900
Chicago, Illinois 60601-7246

ph  312/419-9094, ext. 27
fax  312/419-8950
mlaedo2 at mlahq.org

Plan to attend MLA '08 Connections: BridgingtheGaps
                                            May 16-21 Chicago