News
Photo industry associations to collaborate
The Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) and the American Society of Photography Professionals (ASPP) will bring together an international group of leading trade associations and organizations representing various participants in the stock photo industry, from individual photographers to stock photo companies, to meet in New York City on October 31, 2006, to discuss topics of common interest and establish plans for collective action. This marks the first time such an extensive list of photo business-related trade organizations (see below) have met to coordinate their efforts on behalf of their respective memberships.
Facing various industry forces that have converged to threaten the value of intellectual property copyright protection – an issue of the utmost importance to all the participating associations – Cathy Aron, Executive Director of PACA, and Cathy Sachs, Executive Director of ASPP, recognized the need for this first-ever photo industry summit. Participants will consider ideas for collaborating on urgent issues including Orphan Works legislation that would weaken the legal standing of copyright holders; difficulties in tracking and controlling image use caused by digital distribution methods; and, as the world becomes a smaller place, complications presented by discrepancies between copyright laws from country to country. On a more positive note, participants will also consider further support of the Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS,) an image usage standards code designed to facilitate proper authorized image licensing.
The organizers of this meeting hope to form an “association of associations” with a stated goal of “Mattering More and Extending Ourselves--Promptly, Efficiently and Collectively,” according to an agenda drawn up for the meeting by Joe LaCugna, a marketing expert with industry experience who will facilitate the meeting. The participants hope to accomplish this by using the meeting to:
(1) define mutual interests, priorities, and the best focus of collective efforts (if any);
(2) define next steps and specific processes required for successful collective action; and
(3) identify and align resources to implement these priorities.
List of attending associations and their representatives:
Association of Photographers (AOP) (UK), Gwen Thomas
Advertising Photographers of America (APA) National, Constance Evans, Executive Director
American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) Eugene Mopsik, Executive Director, Victor Perlman, General Counsel, Judy Hermann, Vice President, Clem Spalding, President
American Society of Picture Professionals (ASPP) Cathy Sachs, Executive Director, Eileen Flanagan, President, Jane Kinne, Legal Consultant
British Association of Picture Libraries & Agencies (BAPLA) Linda Royles, Director
Coordination of European Agencies Press Stock (CEPIC) Sylvie Fodor, Director
Editorial Photographers (EP) Brian Smith, Shawn Henry
North American Nature Photography Assoc. (NANPA) Al Seig, President , Francine Butler, Executive Director, Jane Kinne, Consultant
National Press Photographers Assoc.(NPPA) Greg Smith, Chairman, Business Practices, Tony Overman, President
Picture Archive Council of America (PACA) Cathy Aron, Executive Director, Roger Ressmeyer, President, Nancy Wolff, General Counsel
Professional Photographers of America (PPA) David Trust, CEO
Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Jennifer Pearson Yamashiro, Executive Director
Stock Artists Alliance (SAA) Betsy Reid, Executive Director, David Sanger, President
Art Directors Club (ADC) Myrna Davis, Executive Director
American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Richard Grefe, Executive Director
Graphic Artists Guild (GAG) Tricia McKierman, Admin. Director
Society of Illustrators (SI) Terry Brown, Director
Picture Licensing Universal System (PLUS) Jeff Burke, Chairman of the Board
Posted in: ASPP, BAPLA, CEPIC, News, PACA, Photographers, Stock Photo Companies
