APA Biz Talk | Does registering your images with the Copyright Office really matter?: In this video, APA’s legal counsel Steve Doninger and past president Jeff Sedlik discuss the importance of copyright registration to photographers.

Advocacy News: The Advocacy news feed informs photographers of upcoming legislation, issues, and initiatives they need to be aware of.

APA Awards: APA’s photography contest is ethically constructed and reasonably priced, permitting photographers worldwide to enter and have their work evaluated and recognized by a jury of industry leaders.

Inspiration: The Inspiration articles feed features interviews and overviews of cutting-edge photographers worldwide.

Learn About the Copyright Claims Board (video): On May 16, the Copyright Alliance and Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA), in partnership with the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), hosted a panel titled “Learn About the Copyright Claims Board”, the alternative forum to federal court to resolve certain small copyright disputes.

Focus on the Law: In their brand-new video channel, ASMP’s legal counsel Tom Maddrey does a deeper dive into the legal issues, from contracts to copyrights and beyond, which photographers need to be aware of. Episodes will be added to this channel as they are recorded.

Advocacy Campaigns: ASMP’s news feed of advocacy campaigns apprises photographers of developments which will impact their ability to protect their work and thrive as professionals.

ASMP Academy (for members only): The ASMP Academy Powered by Sony is the new central hub of information, resources, and content, exclusively for ASMP Members: long-form courses, complete curriculums, relevant articles, and attorney-crafted templates.

Business Bootcamps for Writers: The Authors Guild Foundation and an array of authors and publishing experts have made available a FREE series of webinars on the path to publication and the business of writing!

Writers Resource Library: The Authors Guild has published a library of resources for writers, on topics such as self-publishing, submitting your work, literary agents, etc. While some of the articles and resources are limited to members only, many can be accessed by non-members.

Book Contract Reviews (members only) Legal experts help Authors Guild members with understanding everything about book contracts, from negotiating, contract disputes, copyrights and other rights, and royalties. In addition to publishing contracts, members can have their literary agency and freelance agreements reviewed.

Authors Guild Model Trade Book Contract: The Authors Guild publishes a free, publicly accessible Model Trade Book Contract to educate authors about the various terms in publishing contracts, their rights, and what they can and should negotiate. The Model Trade Book Contract contains samples of the clauses or provisions authors are likely to encounter in a publishing contract, from subsidiary rights to rights reversion. Every clause is accompanied by a commentary section that explains what the clause does and how authors might improve the language in their own contract. The AG also has a model contract for literary translators.

Money Matters – The Road to Financial Literacy: This series is dedicated explicitly to financial matters as they concern book authors, journalists, and freelance writers. Each session covers a topic such as royalty statements, forming entities, managing literary estates, freelancer finances, alternative sources of income, what authors can expect to pay for during a book release, and more.

Business Resources for Dramatists: The Guild has developed a set of business resources for members, and many are accessible to non-members as well. Their resources hub includes links to information on diversity and inclusion, workplace safety, issues with live streaming, and copyrights.

Dramatist’s Bill of Rights: Playwrights, composers, lyricists and librettists often struggle professionally in theatres throughout the country, and even on Broadway, due to the wide-ranging demands and expectations imposed on them by their producers (and other collaborators) which are presented as “standard” terms.  It is essential, therefore, that dramatists know their rights, which the Dramatists Guild established in 1926 and has defended ever since.

Copyright 101: This resource page has gathered basic information on copyrights, including US and international copyrights, registering your works, protecting your works, copyright practices for educators, and recent developments in copyright law.

Copyright Advocacy: The Guild has curated articles and videos with a deeper dive into copyright:  what it means , how it benefits theatrical writers, and what you can do to protect your copyright.

Don’t Change the Words: As a part of their effort to support dramatists and their allies in the fight, the Guild created a telephone hotline and email address, where anyone can anonymously report instances of copyright infringement – the Guild will reach out to writers, licensors, and publishers of theatrical works to follow up on the reports.

Inclusion Rider: The first of its kind in the theatre industry, the Dramatists Guild Inclusion Rider is intended to be a model addendum that will enable you to ask a producer to audition or interview, cast, and hire members of historically excluded groups wherever possible.

Freelance 101: Freelancers Union has gathered up toolbox of articles on everything a freelancer needs to know to run their business. Topics include health insurance, managing finances, business insurance, corporate structure, and managing clients.

The Freelancers Guide to Getting Paid On Time: The Union has outlined a five-step course of action to take if your client isn’t paying you on time.

Freelance Isn’t Free Law: This page provides guidance on New York’s Freelance Isn’t Free law – what the law’s provisions are, and how to file a claim. The page includes a toolkit for advocates outside of New York to download, to bring the law to their cities and state.

Freelance Tax Center: Resource articles on taxes and freelancing are gathered here, and cover topics such as claiming a home office tax deduction, how to show proof of income, filing freelance taxes for the first time, and tax year 2022 and beyond.

Guild News: The news blog covers educates graphic artists on issues and developments they need to be aware of. For example, filtering articles by Copyright pulls in articles on hiring homework, social media hashtag campaigns, and Google licensable image badges.

Ask a Pro webinars: In this free series of webinars, professional designers and illustrators share their life and work experience. The Guild webinar archive includes presentations free to members and at a low price for non-members on topics relevant to working artists.

Starting Your Own Communication Design Business: In this whitepaper, design firm owner Lara Kisielewska outlines what anyone starting their own studio needs to know about getting off the ground, and growing their business.

The Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines: Published by MIT Press, the Handbook is considered the industry bible for working illustrators and designers. The book contains standard trade practices by industry, current salary information and freelance rates, and model contracts and forms.

Tools and Resources: The Graphic Artists Guild has collected a library of resource articles for illustrators, designers, and other artists. Topics include copyrights, contracts, business basics, client relations, licensing, and marketing and self promotion.

ICoD position on unpaid work: The Council’s position on unpaid work demands fair compensation and discourages any practices which require designers to work without remuneration. The Council has included a guide for designers to navigate through the various types of requests for unpaid work, including pro-bono work, design competitions, and unpaid internships.

Best practice papers on design competitions: The Council has developed two guides related to design competitions, one on how to best organize an ethical, professional award competition, and a second on how to serve as a juror.

Professional Code of Conduct: The Professional Code of Conduct outlines the designer’s rights and responsibilities to their community, their clients, and society. The Code can be read online by section, or downloaded as a PDF in English, Spanish, Polish, Japanese, and Lithuanian.

Polemics archive: The Polemics Archive poses questions that challenge the perception of what design is, and where it is going.

Streaming Justice: The Alliance is organizing for real justice for musicians in the age of streaming media. Their resource page provides tools for musicians interested in joining the advocacy efforts and a set of FAQs on the issue.

MWA in the Press: The Alliance’s news feed culls articles on local and nationwide issues important to musicians, from pandemic relief, to copyright and DMCA issues.

Resources: The Resources page is being developed and currently holds links to Support Group form (for individuals harmed in the music industry), grants database, residencies database, and tips and advice on applying for grants.

Additional Resources:
Career Resources from American Composers Forum: The Forum has collected a hub of resources to help composers develop their careers. We’ve included direct links to some of the resources:

• Music Publishing 101 (PDF): This resource on “How Composers Earn Money from Their Compositions” was written by Marc D. Ostrow, CEO of ScoreStreet, an online music publishing and licensing service.
• Copyright Basics: This primer by attorney James M. Kendrick, Esq. on copyrights covers the basics as well as issues related to the online use of music.
• Grand Right Licensing and Rental Fees: Attorney James M. Kendrick, Esq. covers the basics of licensing dramatic rights (or “grand” rights), including calculating fees.
• Contracts: The Forum as also supplied some sample contracts critical for composers, such as a Sample Chamber Commission Agreement, Sample Commissioning Agreement, and Sample Theatrical Work Commission Agreement.

Successful Gigging and Freelancing: This publication by Dr. Adrian Daly of the Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester) is a comprehensive guide for gigging musicians on marketing, contracting gigs, professionalism, and contract details.

Priorities for Copyright Reform: NWU has identified their priorities for copyright reform on behalf of US writers. These include the elimination of the registration requirement f0r filing a copyright infringement lawsuit or receiving statutory damages and attorneys fees; establishment of a copyright small claims tribunal; and reform of copyright law regarding reversion of rights.

Open Library: NWU has assembled some resources on Open Library, explaining what “controlled digital lending” (CDL) is and why it is detrimental to writers and visual artists. The resources include an FAQ on Controlled Digital Lending, initiated by the NWU and endorsed by an international coalition of creators of all types of written and visual works, and an in-depth explainer and video demonstrating CDL. If you discover your work on Open Library, without your permission, you can email them at info@archive.org with your opt-out and takedown request.

Orphan Works: NWU’s concerns with legislation to address orphan works were submitted in a comment letter to Senators Tillis and Leahy; the letter provides a good outline of what the issues are for creators. Additional resources on international orphan works and out-of-commerce works are:

• EU “out of commerce” works scheme (can opt out preemptively for all works)
• EU “orphan works” scheme (can only opt out after a specific work is identified as an orphan work)
• UK “orphan works” scheme (can only opt out after a specific work is identified as an orphan work)

Study on the Moral Rights of Attribution and Integrity: NWU and SFFWA submitted comments to a Copyright Office inquiry on moral rights of attribution and integrity.

Writer Beware: SFWA’s initiative is a hub of information on the problems and pitfalls aspiring writers face. In addition to the Writer Beware blog, the website provides comprehensive resources and explainers:

• Case Studies of schemes which defrauded writers
• Predatory contests and awards
• Copyright basics
• Editors and editing
• Legal recourse and other remedies
• Literary agents
• Self publishing
• Small presses
• Thumbs-down agencies
• Thumbs-down publishers
• Vanity anthologies
• Vanity/subsidy publishers
• Writers services