Washington, DC (October 23, 2019): The Graphic Artists Guilds applauds the passage of H.R. 2426, the Copyright Alternative in Small-claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) by the full House last evening. The vote demonstrated the overwhelming and bi-partisan support which exists for the Bill, with 410 members voting aye and only six voting nay.  This was a decisive victory for visual artists and creators.

The Guild is grateful to Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Doug Collins (R-GA) for their leadership in introducing the Bill, and to the original co-sponsors: Representatives Jerry Nadler (D-NY), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Martha Roby (R-AL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). We are particularly grateful for the care these Members took in listening to the concerns of individual creators, and in crafting a Bill that balances the concerns of those who create copyrighted works and those who use them.

Guild National President Lara Kisielewska says: “The Guild constantly hears from illustrators and designers whose work has been infringed. They feel stymied by a system in which, if the infringer refuses to negotiate with them, their only course of action is an expensive, time-consuming process in federal court. We believe The CASE Act will not only provide creators with an affordable alternative to federal court, but will also deter the outright theft of the work of individual creators, and in so doing, will restore respect for their labor and their copyrights.”