New Forum for Small Copyright Disputes Helps All Photographers and Creators
Congress passed the CASE Act as part of the end-of-year omnibus and COVID-19 relief package, titled the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. The bill will now go to the President’s desk for signature. There are two additional parts to this bill that you should know about.
First, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 is legislation that will bring much needed economic support for thousands of creators who have lost jobs, gigs, performances and significant income due to the pandemic.
Second, the Protecting Lawful Streaming Act (PLSA) was also included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which will modernize copyright law by harmonizing criminal penalties for illegal streaming of copyrighted works to be consistent with those that have long existed for illegal downloading and distribution. By updating criminal copyright law, the PLSA will provide prosecutors with an effective tool to deter harmful criminal activity and protect the rights of creators and copyright owners.
Washington, D.C., December 21, 2020 – The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is delighted that the CASE Act has passed both the House and Senate chambers and is on its way to the President’s desk for signature into law. The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act gives a viable, practical path of alternative dispute resolution to photographers and content creators who find their work infringed. This Act becoming law is a critical step in leveling the playing field between those who create and those who infringe, and it allows small disputes to be mutually solved in a dedicated forum outside of the federal judicial process – which will save photographers enormous amounts of time and dollars when enforcing their Constitutional rights.
ASMP has been at the very forefront of the CASE Act since its genesis in the mid-2000’s and for more than ten years has been a proud and ardent supporter of this commonsense legislation. ASMP members have dedicated countless hours and inexhaustible energy in helping this bipartisan legislation finally become the law of the land.
“To see the CASE Act win passage in the U.S. Congress is one of this organization’s proudest moments, and knowing how this will directly help not only the professional photographers and creators who comprise our membership, but the entire creative community as a whole, is both gratifying and humbling,” ASMP General Counsel Thomas Maddrey noted.
About ASMP:
The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the premier trade association for the most respected photographers across the worlds of advertising, magazines, photojournalism, architectural photography, portraiture, sports, fashion, entertainment, fine art, video/film, and beyond. ASMP is the leader in providing extensive education and resources to photographers on the best practices to run and grow a business in these fields, promoting the rights of photographers through a robust program of legal and public policy advocacy, connecting member photographers with clients, and producing business publications for photographers that set the industry standards. The organization exists because the work of these visual creators is so important to our economy and our culture. Founded in October of 1944, with a storied history that is an integral and pivotal part of the progression of photography as a profession, industry, and cultural force, ASMP is celebrating its 75th Anniversary this year with nearly 3,500 members and 38 chapters.
