ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline
Volume 14, Number 32
March 29, 2005

In This Issue: library community files comments on orphan works

The library community has filed comments (attached) with the U.S. Copyright Office in support of a proposal to change copyright law to address issues surrounding orphan works. Orphan works are those copyrighted works whose owners are difficult or even impossible to find. The Copyright Office issued a Notice of Inquiry on January 26, 2005 [http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/2005/70fr3739.html] soliciting advice on the problem of orphan works. Many organizations have taken advantage of this important opportunity to address the problem of using works still protected under the ever lengthening copyright terms (thanks to the Berne Convention Implementation Act of 1988 and the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act of 1998), but whose owners cannot be identified.

The library associations worked with many in the non-profit community including the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic (at American University's Washington College of Law), the College Art Association (CAA), the American Historical Association, cultural institutions, and public interest groups in developing a "legislative fix" to the Copyright Act to address the issues associated with orphan works.  Also attached is the proposal by the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic.

All of the comments will be available from the Library of Congress Copyright Office. < > Reply comments are to be filed on or before May 9.


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