Mass Cultural Council Archive

Your Constitutional right to protect your IP is at risk like never before!

Artists Under the Dome

Anyone who creates intellectual property in Massachusetts, whether they be traditional artists, photographers, game and software creators, sculptors, etc., need to be aware that the right to protect this property is greatly at risk. Right now at the State House, advocates to protect copyright are working to amend the 2004 Independent Contractor law that placed most content creators in the W-2 tax category, making them work-for-hire.

All W-2 creative output (copyright and all other kinds of intellectual property such as trademark rights, patten rights, etc.) automatically goes to the employer.

You can watch a brief, informative video about the Independent Contractor problem here.

Please read and participate in this recent call to action by Kathleen Bitetti, artist and co-founder of artistsunderthedome.org. It could save your livelihood.

June 18, 2010

Greetings,

I have posted  how members of the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development voted on the redraft of HB1844  (now known as HB4748):
http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/vote_HB1844.html

The new draft, HB4748,  DOES NOT fix the problems caused by the 2004 law change:
http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/HB4748.html

I also posted is a link to a very helpful article:
http://www.mbbp.com/resources/employment/independent_contractor.html

I now need you to contact the Governor and both your State Representative and Senator to let them know that the redraft version HB4748 does not fix the unintended consequences from the 2004 independent contractor law change that are impacting artists of all disciplines. Also urge them to attend the Cultural Caucus’s informational briefing on issues affecting the artists labor market on Wednesday, June 30th.  An email will be sent to every member of legislature inviting them to attend this important briefing by the Cultural Caucus.

How to contact the Governor and your State Senator and Representative:

Contact the Governor on this issue
Phone: 617.725.4005
888.870.7770 (in state)
TTY: 617.727.3666
To send him an email http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us

How to find your state representative (on the form it says Rep in General Court) and your state senator (on the form it says Senate in the General Court): http://www.wheredoivotema.com/bal/myelectioninfo.php

Please pass this email on to anyone else who will take the time to contact their legislators and the governor.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Bitetti
Artist
Co-founder of www.artistsunderthedome.org
Co-founder of the Massachusetts Artists Leaders Coalition

PS: Please help us build our listserv- ask other artists of all disciplines and those who care about us to join the artistsunderthedome.org’s listsev!

http://www.artistsunderthedome.org/contact.html