NDSA:Gene Mopsik

Gene Mopsik, ASMP

Biography:
Eugene Mopsik has a long and distinguished record with the American Society of Media Photographers and has led the organization as its Executive Director since 2003. Prior to serving as Executive Director Gene was an active member on ASMP’s board in a number of capacities including a term as its President in 2000/01.
He has been a prominent advocate for the rights of photographers and other visual artists. ASMP is a leader in current issues such as copyright registration of images, social media terms of service, Orphan Works and the exploration of new business models. Gene has engaged in discussions with the Nielsen Corp., Getty Images, the New York Times regarding their new freelance contract, and he has worked to create new agreements between photographers and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) regarding the rights to images submitted for various AIA competitions. Mopsik has participated in summer of 2010 US Patent and Trademark Office hearings on Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Information Economy and delivered papers on Copyright and Collective Licensing at the Columbia University Kernochan Center. He has also been active in the creation of strategy for Congressional discussions related to Orphan Works legislation, and in the opposition to the proposed Google Settlement initiated by the Author’s Guild and the Association of American Publishers.
Gene currently serves on the boards of the Brooks Institute, the Eddie Adams Workshop and the PLUS (Picture Licensing Universal System) Coalition, and on the Advisory Board of the Young Photographers Alliance (YPA). Prior to his position at ASMP, his career was as a successful Philadelphia corporate/industrial photographer having graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Interest in serving on the Coordinating Committee:
I have been an active participant with the LOC through the NDIIPP Awards and the NDSA. ASMP created the dpBestflow Web site, associated print publication and educational seminar series. I believe that I can represent the interests of the visual arts community to the NDSA Coordinating Committee. My experience as executive director of ASMP along with my knowledge and experience related to intellectual property rights and emerging business models would be of value to the committee. I am particularly interested in ways to expand the dpBestflow knowledge base into motion work and also to make it a valuable resource for the average household with preservation needs. The visual heritage of individual families along with the visual heritage of the United States is at stake. I thank you for your consideration.

Communities Represented:
Commercial, artists, stock photographers

Length of Term:
2 years (ending December 31, 2012)