Congress has been actively involved in the orphan works issue, especially since March 2006. The first notice of the orphan works issue by Congress appears to be in the report that accompanied the 1976 Copyright Act.

The current leadership of the Judiciary Committees with jurisdiction over copyright issues including orphan works is:

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermont
  • Ranking Member Sessions of Alabama

U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee
  • Full Committee Chairman John Conyers of Michigan
  • Full Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith of Texas

There have been three Congressional hearings on the orphan works issue:


Various negotiating sessions have occurred hosted by these Committees in 2006 and 2008. Numerous interested groups met and continue to meet with Members of Congress to express their support or opposition to various parts of the legislation.