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     Graphic Artists Guild
     90 John Street, Suite 403
     New York, NY 10038-3202
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The following is an edited version of the Graphic Artists Guild's quarterly newsletter, Guild News, for the Fall of 1996. Anyone wishing a complete version should see the Join page for further information.

Current News and News Archives

Picture This ...

In an unusual preemptive effort, on June 19th the Graphic Artists Guild filed a formal protest with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of Adobe System Inc.'s attempt to register the term "Illustrator" as its trademark.

Picture This ...

describes the prospective impact on artists and the issues the Guild raises in the Letter of Protest.

Picture This sidebar

In a recent issue of the "Update," the Guild's Boston Chapter ran an article on AdobeCorporation's challenge to an application for federal trademark registration of the name "illustration" on some products. The article brought a rapid response from Adobe; the sidebar gives comparisons of Adobe'sclaims and the Guild's response in its Letter of Protest to the Patent and Trademark Office.

Rights-Free CDs?

Will new media create new minefields for artists?
The new technologies are bringing many new opportunities for working graphic artists: web page design; new animation tech- niques; projects incorporating music and multidimensional visu- als. But they're bringing new worries too, as the ease with which images can be reproduced from and with such media begins to threaten longstanding markets.
"Rights-Free CDs?" includes reactions from artists--pro and con--and discusses the issues raised of possible lowering of fees, creating low-cost art that limits markets, and Milton Glaser's sense that it will create a loss of integrity in a transformation of artist from creator to service provider.

Ask First

Following up on an earlier Guild News report on a widening practice by art directors and ad agencies of using portfolio art for comps--without permission--"Ask First" describes the beginning of a campaign by the Guild and other organizations to "heighten copyright awareness of art directors, graphic designers, and others who routinely clip, swipe, scan, or otherwise misappropriate images for comping, agency representation, and other uses."

Taxing California Sales

California illustrators face unusual tax rules: their sales of rights to use their work are considered, under state tax regulation, sales of "tangible property" that requires sales taxes. But the authors of the books they illustrate are not similarly taxed. And if the artwork is transferred electronically, it is also not considered taxable.
Illustrator Jennifer Preston, who had to pay four years of back taxes and interest under protest, is suing to change this practice.

Guild Roundup

A Return to Governance

Guild National President Polly Law discusses the Guild's need for and process in seeking a new strategic plan.

Each Journey Begins With a Single Step

Guild Executive Director Paul Basista describes numerous recent Guild achievements, including membership growth; the new strategic plan; the new Website; the Guild's largest Directory of Illustration ever; among others.

Public Affairs Report

Guild Vice President for Public Affairs Daniel Abraham discusses the critical need for artists to register their work for copyright as well as ongoing discussion with the U.S. Copyright Office concerning the copyrightability of graphic design.

Report from Amsterdam

Daniel Abraham also tells of a recent visit to the annual study days of the international copyright society, Association Litteraire et Artistique Internationale.

Mapping the Guild's Future

Polly Law gives a detailed description of the National Board's strategic planning process and reports on the proposed new Mission Statement.

Ms., Working Mother, and Working Woman Stiff Artists
With a change in ownership, these three women's magazines have been refusing to pay artists and writers who wrote for the previous owners.

Find It Here! (review of The Graphic Designer's Sourcebook)
A useful new book giving designers extensive resources for suppliers.

Multimedia Methods (review of Designing Multimedia)
For designers, illustrators, art directors, and production supervisers interested in learning just what goes into making a CD-ROM or website, this is the book for you.

Special Affiliation Section

One Strong Union?
The Affiliation Study Committee (ASC) has done extensive research into affiliation in general and into the four unions who have been courting the Graphic Artists Guild. These are: the American Federation of Teachers; the Communications Workers of America; the United Auto Workers; the United Steelworkers. The ASC prepared a detailed questionnaire, which three unions responded to. This is the first of three installments of the unions' responses.

© copyright 1995 - Graphic Artists Guild