The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) has received $307,700 from the Authors Coalition of America (ACA). The funds are part of a distribution from a European Collecting Society that is authorized to collect payments for the copying of non-title-specific copyrighted works. In order to facilitate photocopying the law allows it to take place in some instances without requiring that the copyright holder’s name be recorded or that he, she or the corporation holding the copyright be directly compensated for the use.
Since there is no practical way to identify specific creators of such works, national collecting societies have been set up to establish and collect fees for such photocopying. The monies collected are then distributed in a proportional way to professional creator groups for use solely in industry education and advocacy.
The ACA is an association of organizations representing independent authors including illustrators, photographers, songwriters, text writers and visual artists. Its main role is to distribute money collected, primarily in Scandinavia and Europe, for copying non-title-specific works. The money collected on behalf of unidentifiable American artists is distributed to ACA member organizations on the basis of established formulas.
According to ASMP President James Cavanaugh, “ACA funding allows ASMP to provide leadership in educational programs and advocacy issues which we believe to be of significant value to the photographic community.” ASMP’s Executive Director Eugene Mopsik stated, “The funding received from ACA has enabled ASMP to offer numerous resources to the visual arts community, such as seminars and conferences delivered around the country, online business resources, and advocacy in the courts.”
Examples of the programs and projects which ASMP has developed through these funds are:
Strictly Business 3, the acclaimed photography business education series;
Registration ©ounts, which creates awareness of copyright issues and encourages photographers and other visual artists to register their work; and
dpBestflow, the latest in digital imaging best practices offered by ASMP in conjunction with the Library of Congress through its National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program, and Student & Emerging Photographer Business Education.
ASMP has provided significant ongoing support to the following: the Picture Licensing Universal System (
PLUS) Registry, a resource to provide unique searchable identifiers and image recognition to determine an image creator’s name, contact information and usage rights;
Young Photographers Alliance (YPA) as a Major Founding Sponsor to set up mentoring and internship programs for student and emerging photographers;
Eddie Adams Workshop Barnstorm, in which 100 photography students participate in an intense four-day gathering of top photojournalism professionals;
George Eastman House, an independent nonprofit museum and educational institution that tells the story of photography and motion pictures; and W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund award to a photojournalist of exceptional talent, integrity and dedication. For more information on ASMP’s uses of ACA funds to benefit the industry, go
here.
ASMP is the premier trade association for photographers, providing members with all the tools, information and support needed to run successful photography businesses. Over 7,000 strong with chapters throughout the country, ASMP members are recognized as a community of forward-thinking professionals.