I finally have had enough of ASMP bending over for those who are most against the strongest copyright enforcement. Today, my gauge read “full” when I read Richard Kelly’s tweet encouraging photographers to read this ill-informed piece by Jonathan Bailey on the stupidly named* “Plagiarism Today” website:
So, finally fed up after the ASMP Lessig-filled copyright symposium and other accommodations for Creative Commons and the EFF, etc., and now this, I posted a calling out to my Facebook biz page:
It is incredibly hard to do this. I have liked so many of the people associated with ASMP and have worked with them for years. This is like a bad break-up. But I cannot continue to be supportive of the group as it goes down this path.
And sure, this tweeted link isn’t as bad as warmly welcoming Lessig to your table, but it was, for me, the final straw. Maybe it’s because I have been killing myself in law school working to learn all I can to defend the rights of creatives and seeing such an important group give in like this is painfully frustrating. As I’m in the middle of doing research on copyright law and new technologies for a paper, when I read things like how copyright is bad for small creatives, all I can think is “Son of a bitch… another one has bought into the anti-corporate shell game obfuscation spewed by people like Lessig and the EFF and others.”
I could sit on my hands. I’m going to make lots of people angry by posting this, but if I want to look in the mirror, if I want to be a person of honor, I cannot sit by any more and be a part of such a group.
I don’t like calling out an organization I have been a part of for years, but I cannot be a part of a group that claims to be pro-creative that simultaneously does not stand up exclusively for its members’ best interests
Therefore, I will not be renewing my ASMP membership when it expires at the end of the year. I do not believe that ASMP is doing right by its members. It would be hypocritical of me to continue my membership.
I quit.
Ouch.
Thanks, Richard
I applaud you Leslie for calling them on it. Thank you for caring enough to help make us aware.
Short-sighted, I hope you change your mind.
@Joe This is not short-sighted, it has been long brewing. I have been holding on, hoping to see some positive shift, but I have not.
At the very least, maybe ASMP should take a look at how its actions, particularly those of its leaders, are being perceived by many. Many photographers see ASMP as selling out to Lessig and his ilk. I hear lots of complaints from working photographers, but when I try to share them with ASMP higher-ups, they are poo-poohed.
I find it ironic that every one of my IP-related professors have discussed how traditional copyright must be maintained for small and large creative businesses to survive, and yet ASMP will “dialogue” with those who are committed to destroying it.
The devil will not appear with horns and a pitchfork, but rather as a believable “well meaning” person speaking in seductive tones.
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@anonymous (you@idiot.com, as you self-identified)
Thanks for your hate-filled bile. I have a policy not to publish anonymous comments.
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-Leslie
Thank you Leslie for showing the gumption to call out this ill-advised policy of ASMP.
I bailed on ASMP a couple of years ago.
And why did I do this?
Because I am a part-time photographer. My primary business is web development, and, quite frankly, there are many more opportunities with better pay in that field than in photography.
The way ASMP is set up, people like me are not eligible for full membership. Only those who derive the bulk of their income from photography are.
What’s even more interesting about this state of affairs is that I was at an ASMP-hosted seminar on stock photography a few months before I dropped my membership. During that seminar, the presenter told us that, in the U.S., the number of full-time photographers is on the decline and the number of part-timers is on the rise.
You’d think that ASMP would see a business opportunity in the growing numbers of part-timers, but it appears that its head is firmly planted in the sand.
I fully agree with your premise and rationale on the entire copyright issue. I have been doing research and publishing articles about this topic for years, and are available on my blog: danheller.com/blog
If the photo industry were as assertive as the music and film industry was about asserting copyright protections, photographers would have preserved not only much of their slice of the economy they once had, but the industry itself would have grown.
I never joined in the first place. I was a full-time, commercial and editorial photographer for years, and never liked the way the ASMP operated. It was organization with an elitist attitude that always rubbed me the wrong way.
They were against royalty free stock photography, when it was obvious it was here to stay. Their requirements for membership, as Martha mentioned above were designed to keep people out, when what they needed was to bring any willing photographer in. How can you preach against royalty free stock, when the very photographers who embraced it were not allowed to be members?
I remember when I first considered joining in the mid 90’s, much of the ASMP articles and reports were unavailable to non-members. Again, what good is preaching to the choir? I suppose at one point the barriers to entry in the photography field were so high, that you could make potential members jump hurdles to join your elite organization, but that attitude will hurt you when those barriers to entry fall.
Leslie, I understand the concern and I did see that Lessig was treated nicely at the symposium. A guest at a panel discussion should be treated with respect whether you agree with them or not. His views needed to be heard for discussion. Not because we agree with him, but because they are different and part of a social viral spread of opinion.
Different opinions make for better discussions on the hurdles and issues that are at hand. In fact, more can be accomplished in opening ones eyes to the issues by talking to someone with whom you disagree than with someone you agree. The love fest that many creatives have in talking to those who agree with them is self stimulation (I withheld what I wanted to call it) at best. What good does it do to sit and talk about what we agree on? Seriously. Nothing but agreement gets little done in determining solutions.
This is a shifting time in the lives of content providers due to the ease of distribution. I don’t see anything wrong with discussing the topics, even with those who disagree with us.
You know I’m a huge advocate for ASMP and for photographers. In this case, I see ASMP doing something and creating dialog on the issues of today. Not just dredging up how things used to be and ignoring social change. Ignore it and it won’t go away. I want my trade association to have the hard conversations. I want ASMP to be in the room talking with those who see things differently.
ASMP has provided many many sessions on the importance of copyright registration in the Registration Counts initiative this year. ARTISTS DON”T REGISTER THEIR COPYRIGHTS!!! ASMP has been working to get them to do it as a part of their workflow. You can’t tell me that’s a bad thing or that those efforts are negated in some way because of dialog ASMP has had with Lessig. So, do you believe Lessig will use his Jedi mind tricks? By looking into his eyes, will everyone who talks with him turn to stone? Or worse yet, will they believe him and see his ways as the truth and the light? None of the above, despite the evil you feel he commands. 🙂
Leslie, you know I respect you and admire your talents and opinions. I think though that you have a perception of this that is not accurate. ASMP is on the right track and I say that, not because I have looked into the eyes of the monster or that I have consumed his cool aid. I say it because I am involved on a regular basis in conversations that revolve around what ASMP is dedicated to doing… protecting copyright and advancing the interests of the independent photographer.
@ Martha – That speaker was correct. Full time is dropping and part time is on the rise. ASMP offers several levels of membership that do not require that you earn the majority of your income as a photographer. The new level of Associate Plus, available after November 1st may be the right option for you. Visit asmp.org and click on “join now” after Nov 1st for details.
I am looking forward to discussing your ill timed departure from ASMP at the party this evening (not my favorite birthday gift incidentally). While I respect your opinion and do appreciate your passion, I have to respectfully disagree as I believe the ASMP does indeed stand up for its members’ best interests. If we didn’t I would not volunteer.
@Martha Retallick,
Regarding ASMP’s embrace of part-timers — we are, in fact, embracing folks like yourself, those who don’t make more than 50% of their income as photographers but who still work professionally in the field. Please check us out again: I think you’ll be pleased.
Leslie, my friend, I don’t believe that I’ve ever pooh-poohed you or your ideas… I’d call it respectful disagreement & debate, both of which can help make the world a better place.
My 22 years in the industry informs me that the true threat to my livelihood isn’t the erosion of copyright, rather it’s the ever increasing contract demands from the corporations for whom I work. Think what you will of Mr. Lessig, but he’s not the one drafting the contracts that rob my colleagues of their rights and the residual value of their work. There is a devil afoot, but in my world, it ain’t him.
Come to the party and I’ll buy you a beer…
I was an ASMP member long ago and I was also with DSVC (i threw in the towel long ago). Honestly…I can find things on copyright and contracts and all that online. I don’t care to be in a club that acts like a masturbation society. I felt it to be more conducive to rub elbows with art buyers and art directors and other potential clients as well as a handful of colleagues (in DSVC) than talk about issues we are having at hand with our business issues or with copyright discussion (ASMP). The photography forums today help with that (APAnet).
I have said during ASMP meetings that teaching copyright and licensing should start in school in any photography curriculum (any school level). I have yet to see that…that is where the deterioration begins because in this digital age…they all claim to be photographers and sell the whole turkey instead of selling the slice (licensing) the minute they step out of the school. And they are in large numbers.