National Writers Union and UCC Revision

[Ann Okerson <ann.okerson@yale.edu>]

Forwarded message:
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 17:54:32 -0700 (PDT)
From: NWU-National Office West <nwu@nwu.org>
Subject: press advisory

PRESS ADVISORY

July 23, 1998


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jonathan Tasini
 July 24 (212)-254-0279
 July 25 (212)-927-1208
 July 26 (216)-771-7600

New York: The National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981) will outline its
strong opposition to a major nationwide uniform commercial code at a
special briefing on July 26th in Cleveland at the annual conference of the
National Conference of Commissioners of Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL). 

The NWU has joined with various consumers groups representing millions of
people throughout the country in opposing the adoption of the so-called
Article 2B of the Uniform Commercial Code. Article 2B will cover all
transactions in information. 

"We oppose 2B not only because of its specifics which pose a great danger
to all writers, in journalism, book publishing, technical writing and
other media,"  said Jonathan Tasini, president of the NWU, who will
represent the union at the briefing. "We oppose 2B because writers have
been swept up in a process gone amok. If 2B is enacted, writers will soon
be facing a 273-page body of code law that challenges even well-trained
lawyers to understand what it means. Spare us, let us be governed by
current Copyright Law and contract law and leave the 2B code to those who
can afford the lead time it takes to under-stand it and have the power to
take advantage of it."

The briefing will be held at 12:30 p.m. (or 15 minutes after the close of
the morning NCCUSL session) in the George Bush Room at the Renaissance
Cleveland Hotel, 24 Public Square (right across from the Marriot Hotel). 

For complete information on the NWU's position on UCC2B, visit the union's
website at: www.nwu.org/nwu/

The NWU is the only union for freelancer writers and represents 4,800
journalists, book authors, technical writers and poets. The NWU is
affiliated with the United Auto Workers. 


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National Writers Union	National Writers Union
National Office West		National Office East
337 - 17th Street, Suite 101	113 University Place, 6th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612		New York, NY 10003
Phone: (510) 839-0110	Phone: (212) 254-0279
Fax: (510) 839-6097	Fax: (212) 254-0673
email: <nwu@nwu.org>	email: <nwu@nwu.org>

WEBSITE: <http://www.nwu.org/nwu
UAW LOCAL 1981 / AFL-CIO
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