Goto this link.

Read the issue if you want, but basically, its a bad idea. I don't know why politics are so difficult. Well, I do know, actually. It's because politicians are people. People with power. It's too bad so often they don't represent the power of the people.

No, I'm not usually political, mainly due to the disgust I have for those in office. And its too much work to figure out where I stand.

Well, on this copyright issue, I know exactly where I stand. I oppose it. As should you. Which is why you should follow the link and email your representative to oppose it. It's stupid, they're trying to sneak it through congress via a bridge bill (What's up with that??), it hurts the artists, and profits the corporations (like Google.. do they REALLY need more money??). I usually see this kind of stuff as some sort of scam to get my email address sent out to spammers. I don't believe that's the case here.

The Orphan Works Act of 2008
Bill # H.R.5889

From a Web comic artist I really like and respect:

Google is behind a move to radically change copyright law so they, and others, can display cartoons (as well as other things) with no regard to copyright. Someone could take one of my (or your) cartoons, remove the creator's name and post it anywhere for profit.

The cartoonist would be responsible for tracking it down. Even then, the violator is only responsible for giving you a small one-time usage fee and is not liable for any damages. And the only way one can protect yourself is to upload everything you've ever done into two or three not-yet-created databases. The idea being that if someone scans those "official" databases and doesn't see your stuff, it's okay for them to use it.

Oh, those databases will be run by for-profit groups so you would have to pay to have this done ... The working number is $10 per image upload. Yes, it's that one sided.

The initial legislation was introduced in the middle of the night tacked on to a bill for funding bridges. Luckily, a lifelong friend to the cartoonist community, Stu Rees, caught it. The initial push was stopped. Several arts organizations, the National Cartoonist Society included, are now fighting back and are having an effect. They've made it amazingly simple for you to respond. It can all be done electronically in seconds. [See link at bottom]

The counterattack is having a distinct effect. But since Google is behind this (initially hiding behind a couple of museum organizations), it's going to be daunting.

Bottom Line: Oppose the Orphan Works Act.