“Artist–Museum Partnership Act” Outlines the Donation of a Copyright

A bill that was introduced first in the Senate and later by the House has received ample support from both chambers. The legislation would allow creators to donate a completed work and/or its copyright to an eligible not-for-profit organization or U.S. Government agency to receive a tax deduction in the amount of the “fair market” value as determined by an independent appraiser. One high point of this legislation is that it addresses the tangible work and its copyright as separate items that can be deducted for tax purposes.

The “Artist – Museum Partnership Act” as titled in both the House and Senate aims to encourage writers, musicians, artists, scholars, and (of course) photographers, to contribute works to museums, archives and similar organizations for the purpose of public display. The language used in the bill values the tangible work and copyright separately, on the understanding that the creator may donate the manuscript, score, painting or photograph while retaining the rights afforded under U.S. Copyright Law.

World Book and Copyright Day

April 23, 2007 marks the 12th annual celebration of "World Book and Copyright Day."  In 1995, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared April 23 a day to promote reading, creativity and the protection of intellectual property.  The date was derived from a Catalonian tradition commemorating the death of author Miguel de Cervantes. On this day books were exchanged for roses throughout the region.

Events held on this day intend to inspire young people to consider the importance of social and cultural contributions to humanity.  UNESCO Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura said “the Day has always been closely associated, from its inception and throughout all these years, with an awareness of the importance of the moral and heritage protection afforded to works of the human spirit and their creators.”

For more on information on World Book and Copyright Day, click here.

To read the full text of Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura’s statement, click here.

PPA Supports Senator Bayh on S. 522

Professional Photographers of America (PPA) has announced support of The Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act, S. 522, which was introduced into the Senate recently by Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) and co-sponsored by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Robert P. Casey (D-PA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), and Tim Johnson (D-SD) in a letter to Senator Bayh. PPA is joined by its partner organizations, the Society for Sports & Event Photographers (SEP), Commercial Photographers International (CPI) and the Student Photographic Society (SPS), representing over 30,000 professional photographers across the U.S.

To read the letter to Senator Bayh, click on Download ppaava_letter_of_support_for_s.522.pdf.

The legislation would establish an Intellectual Property Enforcement Network (IPEN) to replace the looser, interagency approach currently responsible for coordinating IP enforcement efforts. Under the proposed legislation, federal agencies would coordinate and share information to aid each other in identifying, tracking, arresting and prosecuting IP criminals.

For the full text of this bill, click here.

For the press release issued by Senator Bayh and Senator Voinovich, see Download bayhvoinovich_press_onepager.pdf