Freelance problems over copyright

You will in the coming days receive the latest national Guild e-news via e-mail.
Attached to it is a message from me. Here are the edited highlights. I look forward to the responses as the issue has been raised via my blog.
To those who have raised it, I would say: the ball is now in your court. If you want the issue tackled, then show some interest. If no interest is forthcoming, then I will not be asking council for its support. YOU have to show the interest in this so please do get in touch.



I have in recent weeks had two responses to my Internet Blog in which members raise issues about copyright and the lack of action by the Guild on this issue in protecting members' interests.
Can I make it absolutely clear that it is not for the Guild to set freelance rates; it is for members themselves to do that as they know the value of their work, not us.
I do, however, sympathise with the issues raised on copyright and the alleged bully-boy tactics of some publishing houses in supposedly demanding members' work appears both in the published format and their Internet sites.
As the issue of copyright has been raised I have asked council if we should perhaps contemplate a course on this issue for members, possibily holding it with another kindred organisation to mitigate the costs.
What I need to know before we go to the bother of taking this any further is whether or not there would be support for any effort. I've already thrown down the gauntlet to one of the members who raised this and who said Guild was failing the membership by not doing anything on the issue. I've asked if he has any ideas how we can resolve it. The silence has, however, been deafening so far, which is far from encouraging.
If this is an issue that needs to be resolved, and the Guild requires to be proactive in informing members of their rights, then
you have my commitment that council will take this forward.
There has, however, to be buy in from our freelance members before we go ahead. They also have to accept that if we do hold a course there will be a cost attached which they will have to bear, both in travelling to it and in attendance fee as we would have to find an expert to speak on the issue and they will undoubtedly have a cost
attached.
So some questions to which I need responses before the council meets on October 26.
Do you want such a course organised?
What level of cost are you prepared to pay?
Where would you like it held?
What would copyright issue would you like it to concentrate on?
Do you have any suggestions as to whom we could ask to give the course?
Would you like the Guild to join the Creators Rights Alliance which has been set up to fight the issue of copyright infringement? It involves the Association of British Science Writers, Association of Illustrators, Association of Photographers, Association of United Recording Artists, British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, British Association of Picture Libraries and Agencies, Chartered Institute of Journalists, Directors Guild of Great Britain, Garden Writers Guild, Incorporated Society of Musicians, Musicians Union, National Union of Journalists, Outdoor Writers Guild, Society of Authors, Society of Producers and Composers of Applied Music and the Writers Guild of Great Britain.

I'd venture that we would need at least 20 people to take part from our side for any course to be viable.
If, as is suggested, this is an area of vital importance, then I positively look forward to the deluge of e-mails. My e-mail, as ever, for absolutely any issue is joe.watson@mac.com

NO RESPONSES MEANS I TAKE THIS NO FURTHER SO THE BALL IS FIRMLY WITH EVERY FREELANCE GUILD MEMBER TO MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN