Dear
Copyright Advocates,
A couple weeks ago I emailed you about a bill that has been
introduced in the Senate that will combat online infringement of
copyrighted works (it's called the "Combating Online Infringement
and Counterfeits Act" or "COICA"). I encouraged you to sign a petition in favor of
the bill.
Though many of you did this, our efforts have not been
enough.
The opponents of this bill have been active in mobilizing the
masses to speak out against it. The result of their efforts is that
it seems like the public is against this bill. Yet, I hear from you
everyday about how websites are illegally posting your creative
works for others to take and how this affects your
livelihood.
This bill would benefit all artists and creators! TAKE ACTION
TODAY! Stand up for your rights!
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| 1.
Speak up on blogs and listservs. Last
week I blogged about a musician who
spoke out in favor of the bill on a website. When he did so,
others verbally attacked him calling him a "greedy pig" among other
things. This musician and other artists need your support on this
effort. Post blogs and comments on your own websites or on websites
like this one. |
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2.
Contact your Senator and House
Representative. Tell your congressional
representatives to vote YES to the bill. Tell them your story and
how piracy and infringement affect you.
To find and email your Senator, go here.
To find and
email your House Representative, go here.
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| 3.
Tweet this: Stop online piracy of art,
music, movies, books, all creative works. Vote yes to Combating
Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act #COICA |
| 4.
Facebook this: The U.S. Congress is
debating a bill that could help millions of artists around the
world. If passed, the bill would allow the government to target and
shut down "internet sites dedicated to infringing activities" which
are "primarily designed" to access unauthorized copyrighted
material. Tell your representatives to vote YES to the Combating
Online Infringement and Counterfeits Act (COICA). |
| 1.
Check out this short video by independent filmmaker
Ellen Seidler as she talks about how websites that are illegally
hosting her movie are profiting. Yet, she is losing money. This
bill will help shut down websites like these. |
| 2.
The bill will not target minor violations of
copyright. It will target "internet sites dedicated to
infringing activities" that are "primarily designed" to offer or
provide access to copyrighted material "without the authorization
of the copyright owner." |
| 3.
The Attorney General will be able to request a
court order to suspend the domain names of U.S.-based infringing
websites. For non-U.S.-based websites, the Attorney General will be
able to request a court order to require the ISPs to block the
website. Credit card companies and networks providing ads to these
sites will also suspend all activity with the infringing
sites. |
| 4.
A list of all the domain names that are found to
be infringing copyright protected content will be posted on a
"publicly available Internet site, together with other relevant
information, in order to inform the public." |
| REMEMBER PILFERED
MAGAZINE? |
|
Last
February we made you aware of "Pilfered Magazine", an online
magazine that freely took images from photographers without their
permission and didn't credit or compensate the photographers.
Because of your emails, Tweets, and postings on blogs and Facebook,
the magazine was shut down in a weekend and has never
reopened.
It is important that we take collective action on this bill too.
Pilfered is not the only website that hosts and offers infringing
material. This bill will help remove other websites like Pilfered
from the internet.
ONE
VOI�E: SPEAK UP FOR CREATORS' RIGHTS
Best,
Lucinda Dugger
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P.S.
If you received this email from a friend, and you are interested in
receiving more information about how you can speak up for your
rights, sign up for our network of
Copyright Advocates.
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