Photographers across the UK are currently up in arms over a new Bill, which seeks to make fundamental changes to copyright law. Message boards and forums have been inundated with angry photographers over the past weeks prompting a flurry of letters to MPs. One site has even reported 50,000 visits to its letter to MP’s in the last 10 days.

The issue is over proposals in the Digital Economy Bill, currently in the House of Lords, to allow legal publication of archive material (both visual and textual) for whom the author is unknown and can not be traced. Publication of “Orphaned Works” as they are known was originally proposed by Museums and Art Galleries to allow public access to their archives. However, photographers are objecting to the Bill because it extends the exception to current commercial works and usage. They fear that through the web, they will see a significant proportion of their images stripped of any traceability and declared Orphan Works by unscrupulous individuals and large libraries alike.

Although the Digital Economy Bill was originally conceived to protect film and game producers from illegal file sharing and downloading, photographers claim the new proposals will allow image theft and drive a horse and carriage through the international treaties on copyright.

The Bill is currently in the House of Lords (where it originated) and attempts are being made to rush it through Parliament before the next election. A full explanation of the issues and further links can be found at www.kingbridge.co.uk/blog where Bristol Media member Andre Regini will be publishing up to date news on the proposal