2006.02.04
Free Speech Under Attack
HR 683 – the Trademark Dilution Revision Act, is a new law that has passed through the House and is currently waiting review by the Senate. It will make it painfully simple for the holders of trademarks to sue you if their trademarked items appear in any artwork you create. This means if a Coke bottle appears in a photo you take the Coca Cola company could hypothetically sue you for severe damages.
This is a clear attack on free speech. It’s one thing to sue someone for appropriating your trademarked product and using it to deliberately smear your product and company. It’s a completely different thing to sue a bunch of high school art students who use a Clorox Bleach bottle in a still life drawing. I’ve taken pictures of products with funny tag lines and these companies could sue me despite the fact that their tag line is funny.
Read more detailed information about this serious issue here and write to Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein (as well as Arlen Specter who heads the Judiciary Committee) and let them know you oppose this legislation. This has nothing to do with liberal or conservative tendencies; everyone who is involved in artistic persuits -professionally or as a hobby- will be affected by this legislation.
1 Comment Categorized: political
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One Response to “Free Speech Under Attack”
- NHK says (February 7th, 2006 at 19:42:20 )
Holy Andy Warhol, Batman!
What? So now the only legal ‘pop’ art’ involving trademarked/branded images will be that created by the related brandholder’s agency of record?
Given that most ad agency art directors are complete hacks and just completely devoid of talent (trust me on this one, because I *do* know)…Start collecting the good stuff now; you may not be able to afford it down the road!
Really, what a horrible piece of legislation. Then again, in a country where large corporations are treated like demigods, with vast and creepy influence over the government, I suppose certain people may see this as a sort of anti-blasphemy play. Filthy, ignorant dunderheads!
