AMICO Executive Committee
Report from Michael Shapiro
General Counsel, AMICO
April 9, 1998Harry S. Parker III
Director of Museums
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
233 Post Street
San Francisco, CA 94108-5003Dear Mr. Parker:
I am writing to submit my first statement of services as General Counsel of the Art Museum Image Consortium. With only six weeks "on the job," I also can report that my enthusiasm for the project has only grown stronger.
As you probably know, I have been working on a number of projects, all of which are aimed at making sure that AMICO is on a firm legal foundation. Even as I write, the Executive Committee is reviewing the draft Articles of Incorporation for AMICO and, with any luck, I should be able to file them in the District of Columbia in the near future. I am presently drafting the Bylaws for the organization, with a view toward adoption by the Board of Directors at its June meeting.
Working closely with David and Jennifer, I have been able to make significant progress in the review and drafting of contracts and licenses for AMICO. I reviewed and approved the Research Libraries Group Distribution Agreement (with only minor changes) and prepared first drafts of the AMICO Membership Agreement and the AMICO University License.
I represented AMICO at the American Law Institute-American Bar Association (ALI-ABA) Annual Course of Study on Legal Problems of Museum Administration in Chicago (which provided a useful update on electronic rights issues for museums and a good opportunity to chat with AMICOs and other museum counsel). As a result of the meeting, I was invited to represent AMICO as part of a working group of museum attorneys working on digital rights issues, with negotiating standard terms for artists' agreements as a high priority. Finally, in my role as a Goodwill Ambassador for AMICO, I have been a strong advocate of the project to the Mellon and Knight Foundations.
Best regards.
Sincerely,
Michael S. Shapiro
General Counsel, AMICO
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