The US Copyright Office has extended the time to give your opinions and information to them regarding copyright in visual works. The comments are now due by October 1, 2015.
Here is the flyer about the inquiry (pdf), but the important bit is that you need to answer these questions:
1. What are the most significant challenges related to monetizing and/or licensing photographs, graphic artworks, and/or illustrations?
2. What are the most significant enforcement challenges for photographers, graphic artists, and/or illustrators?
3. What are the most significant registration challenges for photographers, graphic artists, and/or illustrators?
4. What are the most significant challenges or frustrations for those who wish to make legal use of photographs, graphic art works, and/or illustrations?
5. What other issues or challenges should the Office be aware of regarding photographs, graphic artworks, and/or illustrations under the Copyright Act?
For #3, I’d like to suggest that all artists at least mention the confusion about publication status. Frankly, I think the CO should dump the whole published/unpublished split but that is unlikely. So, as an alternative, suggesting that they make the definition of publication much more clear would be helpful.
This is your chance to make a difference! Participate! For more information, see: http://copyright.gov/policy/visualworks/