Taking a Stand Against the Orphan Works Bill

I’m way behind on my feed reader, but came across a link to an online petition against the Orphan Works Act of 2008. I really question the efficacy of these online petitions, but the stance taken by the petition isn’t too radical and is worth supporting.

I also stumbled across a link to help you take action and send a message directly to your Congressperson and Senator opposing the legislation.  Again, writing your own letter or calling might be more effective, but every little bit doesn’t hurt. Given the terse, non-committal response I got from Sensenbrenner after my first letter to his office, I figured re-iterating my position wouldn’t hurt.  I really like the closing paragraph of their letter:

This bill was planned behind closed doors, introduced on short notice and fast-tracked for imminent passage. THERE IS NO NATIONAL EMERGENCY TO JUSTIFY RUSHING THROUGH ANY BILL THAT CONSTITUTES SUCH A RADICAL CHANGE TO THE OWNERSHIP OF PRIVATE PROPERTY. Please vote no on this bill and send it back to committee with a demand that it be subjected to an open informed, and transparent public debate.

[via Lessig.org & JMG-Galleries]