Mark McDonnell

MAC

. . . a job well done.

MAC

Here's just a few more sketches from my new sketchbook. I have been cranking on some work lately, and because of that I have not had too much time other than just a few sketches here and there. But it's been a nice release to get out to a few local places and do some quick doodling.
HAPPY FRIDAY,

MAC

If this law passes, this may be one of the only ways to protect our artwork when we post online. Essentially, I would be rendering my artwork useless with a watermark to would-be users seeking to use my artwork without just compensation. But this watermark protection isn't a guarantee, because anything printed or reproduced without your copyright will now be subject to theft! (That's not to say your copyright wouldn't be purposefully stripped for the purpose of theft.)

Right now, anyone can download my artwork, but no one can legally profit off my artwork without just compensation to me. This is all about to change with this new bill being proposed. S.2913 and H.R. 5889.

Seeing a great big watermark is not a great way to blog or to show samples of our artwork on our websites, but this may be one of the only real protections left to us should this become law.

The Orphan Works act works like this. Is someone finds your artwork on the web, or printed elsewhere, without proper copyright and registration (or with the copyright stripped off), they can register it -- after a “reasonable and diligent search.”

What is a “reasonable and diligent search?” Our artwork would be posted somewhere within the dozens of privately owned registration houses, and it would up to us to find our artwork and claim it.

There will be dozens and dozens of privately owned registries, and billions of images throughout 100 years to sort through. Rendering the process of claiming our own images as nearly impossible. If, on the off chance, you find that you have been ripped off, your infringement claim is only limited to, “reasonable compensation.” (As per their actual literature on page 115 in the Orphan Works Full Report.) What is reasonable compensation? Well, it would NOT be the current compensation of 150,000ドル. worth of protection the current law affords us. Fair compensation means there will be NO penalties for copyright infringement. But, if you catch them, they'll pay you what a court deems is a reasonable usage fee.

Now, if you want to protect your images from being ripped off, you would need to register your images with all these privately owned registries. How much will cost? Who knows? How many images to do you draw per year? I just registered one script idea with SAG, and it cost me 20ドル.00.

As a commercial artist the Orphan Works Act puts the burden of copyright protection and enforcement on the artists, while at the same time giving a pass to the users. We have to register with all the registry houses, and they only have to register with one. This is a bad bill that seeks to undermine the government's long-standing legal protection for artists.

Who are these registration data bases that are going to profit from this? Microsoft, Google, Corbis ... to mention a few.

Whenever I see both Democrats and Republicans come together, get ready to grab your wallet! Such is the case with the Orphan Works Act Senate Bill S.2913 and House Bill H.R. 5889. Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA),Howard Coble (R-NC), John Conyers (D-MI), Lamar Smith (R-TX), (Chairman and Ranking Members of House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property and Full Judiciary Committee Chairman and Ranking Member respectively) and Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

Please get active and protect your copyrights, or be prepared to lose them!

- Txt by Marcelo Vignali (PLEASE SEE HIS BLOG SITE TO THE RIGHT FOR MORE INFORMATION AND LINKS)

Here's a few more sketches from my new sketchbook from a two of my favorite hotspots.

MAC

MAC

MAC

Here's an unused character design from a recent 3D project I worked on.

Best,

MAC

I've been pretty busy lately so in order to break the lack of sleep or seeing daylight, I have been sneaking out at lunch or just before dinner to loosen up to do some sketches just for myself. I deceided that this sketchbook would be quick gesture drawings that are more story-related. Simple sketches that convey an interaction or moment in time. And only done with one pen and maybe some blue pencil or a simple marker pass. Pretty fun,

MAC

Here's a couple of sketches from a little trip to the Camarillo Outlet stores from this weekend. After becoming a uncle, it's been a nice eye-opener to spend some time and observe families with their children out in public.

MAC

Happily there is a new edition to the family. My brother and his beautiful wife welcomed a healthy and rather large baby girl into the family. It doesn't get better than that.

Here's one of many 3 minute sketches done today after a quick life drawing session at lunch.

Happy Friday,

MAC

Here's a few 3 minute sketches from the last thursday. Chris Chua was nice enough to introduce me to the wonderful world of the Gelly Roll pen. It's become one of my favorites. Many thanks Chris.

Best,

MAC