Join PPA’s Grassroots Action for Copyright Owners Across America
Attention all artists—now is the time to speak up! Join PPA’s Grassroots Action Team in their effort to create positive change for copyright owners across America.
Members of the House Judiciary Committee are working to create legislation for a small claims copyright process. This process would enable artists to pursue copyright infringement cases in small claims court rather than having to go through the federal court system.
What are the current options?
Federal court is the only avenue available to pursue copyright infringement. According to PPA, the American Bar Association estimates that an infringement claim has to pay a minimum of $30,000 for it to be worth pursuing in federal court, and most attorneys won’t even consider taking on a case for anything less!
What is the plan?
A draft bill is in progress, so specific details are not yet publicly available. The goal is to create a simple and cost-effective process—perhaps an administrative procedure carried out in district courts—that won’t impose a heavy burden on taxpayers.
It’s time to take action!
PPA is calling on ALL artists and their friends and family members to support this new legislation on a grassroots level. Introduction of the final bill could take place within 2-3 weeks, so it’s important to contact your representative today and encourage them to back the upcoming proposal.
PPA will send you the latest updates from Capitol Hill, and they provide a simple platform to easily write/phone your representative, including sample language and talking points:
Describe yourself and your business
Do you own or work for a small business? Describe key components of that business.
How long has the business existed?
Do you employ anyone? How many employees are there?
How has copyright infringement harmed your livelihood?
Over a given time period (5 years, 10 years, your career, etc.), how many copyright infringements have you dealt with?
Over the same time period, how much money do you estimate you have lost from copyright infringement?
Describe your difficulty in recovering damages for these infringements.
We urge you to become part of the Grassroots Action Team to help create positive change benefitting photographers and other artists!
ANYONE can sign up—you do not have to be a PPA member!
Need more info?
Listen to PPA’s webinar “Every Voice Counts – PPA’s Grassroots Plan for Copyright Small Claims”