ASMP SEEKS DYNAMIC SOLUTIONS TO ORPHAN WORKS DILEMMA

Philadelphia, PA, April 25, 2006. While remaining committed to seeking legislative solutions to the Orphan Works issue, ASMP´s board of directors is also seeking technology and business solutions to be utilized by visual artists.

"Our members need new tools and services to deal with Orphan Works and the expanding digital marketplace. We must make it easier for rights holders to be located." says newly elected ASMP president Clem Spalding.

To that end, the ASMP board and staff are exploring the available options and possible partners for the creation of registries or other databases of owner or user information. ASMP believes that this is an excellent opportunity for all of the various photography and illustration associations to come together to benefit their combined memberships.

"Visual artists need to come together with one voice to create the new solutions that government and copyright can't provide", says Spalding.

For more information, contact:
Eugene Mopsik
Executive Director American Society of Media Photographers
Phone (215) 451-2767
Email mopsik@asmp.org

About ASMP

Founded in 1944, the American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP) is the leading trade association for photographers who photograph primarily for publication. ASMP promotes photographers' rights, educates photographers in better business practices, produces business publications for photographers, and helps buyers find professional photographers. It has more than 5,000 members, including many of the world's greatest photographers, in 40 chapters nationwide.