A new bipartisan bill introduced in the United States Senate could bring long awaited relief to photographers who struggle with the cost and complexity of copyrighting their work. The Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act of 2025, known as VACRA, was introduced on December 17, 2025, by Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee and co sponsored by Senator Peter Welch of Vermont.

The bill is receiving strong support from the American Society of Media Photographers, which says the proposal is the result of years of effort by photographers and visual arts organisations trying to modernise a system that no longer reflects how images are produced today. According to ASMP, the legislation represents one of the most meaningful attempts in recent history to make copyright registration workable for photographers and other visual creators.

For many professionals, copyright protection exists mostly on paper. Photographers regularly produce thousands of images each year, yet the current registration system makes it expensive and time consuming to register more than a fraction of that work. As a result, much of a photographer’s output remains unprotected, even though it may be published, licensed, or widely shared.

VACRA is designed to address that imbalance. One of its main goals is to reduce fees and administrative hurdles so creators can realistically register all of their work, not just selected images. ASMP has described the bill as a response to widespread frustration among photographers who want to protect their images but are effectively priced out of the system.

Thomas Maddrey, Chief Executive Officer of ASMP, says the bill removes barriers that have prevented many photographers from participating in the copyright system at all. He argues that these reforms are long overdue and represent an important step toward restoring the purpose of copyright law, which is meant to support creative work rather than discourage it.

A major change proposed under VACRA is a significant increase in group registration limits. The bill would raise the maximum number of photographs allowed in a single group registration from 750 to 3,000. For photographers working in news, sports, events, or documentary fields, this could dramatically reduce both registration costs and administrative effort.

The legislation also introduces a deferred registration option for photographs, graphic works, and sculptural works. This would allow creators to submit a registration at half the usual cost while delaying examination until the copyright owner requests it. Importantly, the registration would still take effect on the day it is submitted, allowing photographers to enforce their copyright in court even if the Copyright Office has not yet examined the work.

Another proposed change would remove one of the most restrictive rules in the current system. At present, group registrations for published photographs must include only images published within the same calendar year, and published and unpublished works must be registered separately. VACRA would eliminate those distinctions, allowing photographers to register images together regardless of publication status, publication date, or creation date.

Senator Blackburn has said the bill addresses a system that has failed to keep pace with the modern creative economy. She argues that visual artists produce work that deserves protection, but current copyright law places unnecessary financial and bureaucratic obstacles in their way. By simplifying the process and lowering costs, the bill aims to help creators protect their livelihoods more effectively.

The legislation also calls for the US Copyright Office to create a searchable digital registry of copyrighted photographs. Because developing such a system will take time, the bill allows for the temporary use of Copyright Office certified private sector registries until a government managed solution is ready. Supporters believe this will make it easier to identify rights holders and reduce unauthorised use of images online.

ASMP has stressed that while the bill’s introduction is a major milestone, further support is needed as it moves through Congress. The organisation, along with partners including NANPA, PPA, and other members of the Coalition of Visual Associations, plans to encourage photographers and visual creators to actively support the legislation.

If passed, the Visual Artists Copyright Reform Act of 2025 could reshape how photographers protect their work in the United States. For many working professionals, it represents a move toward a copyright system that finally reflects the scale, speed, and realities of modern photography.