PSA: why the 'new copyright law' isn't

Hi guys! While I'm looking into the legalities of everything, I thought this could be a helpful PSA.

I've seen a lot of journals about the proposed 'new copyright law that could destroy everything' and while some of these are informative and useful, a lot are fear mongering and spreading inaccurate information. This needs to stop - if not for the sake of my news feed, then for the sanity of deviantart's every day artist.

There is no new copyright law. There isn't even a bill in front of congress. There is a suggestion, and dozens of things like this are suggested all the time, and very few of them ever actually become laws. There have been, in the past and since the current act, many suggested copyright updates - none of them have passed.

 They are simply asking artists for their input. That's it! And most artists are saying 'hell no', so the chances of it passing are even slimmer. Signing petitions can help! Writing letters can help! But telling people 'There's going to be a new copyright law that will ruin us all' is not helpful or accurate.

This is all that exists. It's a report, not a bill. It might sound scary, but these are everywhere and they're unlikely to change anything. 

I haven't finished reading the report and I don't think I ever will (it's a whopping 230 pages), but a lot of what I have read has said that they have no intention of infringing on the copyright of individual artists, and that opting in or out of the suggested systems would be quick, easy and always an option. Also that nothing would be changed without public discussion. 

So even if it did become more than simply one of hundreds of reports, artists would be consulted, changes would be made, and implementation would take years.

It won't change, guys, we won't lose our copyright, please stop freaking people out!

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Also please read my PSA on adopts and consumer rights and seller obligations, as I think that's another big issue at the moment that needs addressing: What your rights are as an adopt buyer and seller