Here is the status:
THE SENATE BILL PASSED ON SEPTEMBER 26:
The Senate Bill was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont on April 24, 2008 and was not open to any public hearings. On May 15, 2008 the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously reported the bill out favorably and sent it to the floor of the Senate for a vote. The bill was hotlined during the week of June 7, 2008 and passed the majority party (Democrats) with unanimous consent and was sent to the minority party (Republicans) for their consent. Several Republican Senators placed holds on the bill, but after the last of these holds expired, the Senate Bill was passed with unanimous consent by hotlining on Friday, September 26, 2008.
THE HOUSE BILL IS STILL BEFORE THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE:
The House Bill was introduced by Representative Howard Berman of California on April 24, 2008. On May 7, 2008 the IP Subcommittee of the House Judiciary unanimously approved the bill, and it has moved to the full House Judiciary Committee. On May 22nd, 2008 the House Judiciary Committee held an invitation only hearing at which Brad Holland from the Illustrators Partnership was the only person from our team to be able to speak. The Judiciary Committee is considering abandoning their version of the bill and adopting the Senate version.
Representatives from various creative arts industries who are opposing the Orphan Works bills of 2008 legislation continue to contact their congressional leaders to request that the bills be put on hold until our voices can be heard. We are committed to helping craft legislation which addresses the problem of true orphan works without severly impacting our ability to protect our copyrights.