Project: Enhancing access to 20th Century culturel heritage through dsitributed Orphan works clearance

Acronym EnDOW
Duration 01/07/2015 - 30/06/2018
Project Topic Digitization of 20th Century cultural heritage is severely restricted due to the real or potential subsistence of copyright and related rights. Under the new European laws on orphan works, a large amount of cultural heritage whose copyright status is uncertain could possibly be lawfully digitized by cultural institutions on condition that a “diligent search” of the right holders has been performed. While these diligent searches trigger prohibitively high costs for institutional users, the project designs a cost effective de-centralized system that enables cultural institutions across Europe to source information from end-users and determine the copyright status of works contained in their collections. Ultimately, the project allows for an enhanced access to 20th Century cultural heritage and contributes to enable use and re-use of items that would otherwise remain unexploited.
Project Results
(after finalisation)
The analysis of the legal requirements of “diligent search” across the orphan works legislation of 20 countries, (Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Check Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, United Kingdom), compiling a list of 1 400 sources and helping to understand how EU Member States have implemented the orphan works Directive as well as other regulations in force – if any – in those countries. • The identification of best practices of orphan works clearance across cultural heritage sectors, through different surveys and one report. • The creation of 20 flowcharts, reflecting the diligent search logical framework for each country studied, forming the base for the implementation of the platform.
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Network HERITAGE PLUS
Call JPI Cultural Heritage and Global Change

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 Bournemouth University Coordinator United Kingdom
2 University of Glasgow Partner United Kingdom
3 University of Amsterdam Partner Netherlands
4 Bocconi University Partner Italy