So help me if this is true . . .

I've gotten this on deviantART from a lot of artists whose sites I keep on watch. It's an article from Animation World Magazine, which complains about a new "Orphan Works" legislation which Congress wants to pass. Any image/art you post will be taken by someone else for profit, and you'd have to pay to keep the copyright, or pay a fine for even displaying it.

[link]
?ltype= pageone&article_no=3605

(Since the linking here sucks, use the URL in the link, then take the below part and add it, minus the minor space in it.)

Sounds bad. Very bad. Fellow readers should pass this message along.

UPDATE: OK, here's a different side of the story. Artist Shon Howell posted something on another DA page that sounds somewhat reassuring:

[link]

After reading this --> [link] I actually downloaded the bill and actually read it, which I'm guessing most of you haven't.

Long story short, the Bill as written DOESN'T legalize art theft. What it does do is put in place a system of due diligence to use art & works orphaned by a copyrighting entity. In order to use an orphaned art, you have to go through a legnthy process to make ABSOLUTELY sure that the art is in play and not currently owned.

There ya go. But hey, what truth when drama's at stake?