MA asks members to lobby MPs over copyright changes
Geraldine Kendall, 27.06.2011
Recommended changes to intellectual property framework could benefit museums
The Museums Association is urging members to send a template letter to their local MP lobbying for the implementation of policies outlined in the Hargreaves Review of Intellectual Property.
The Hargreaves Review was carried out in May to assess how far the UK’s intellectual property framework supports innovation, and to recommend changes that would better support creativity and economic growth.
Following the review, a summary report made a number of key recommendations to boost access to works held by cultural heritage organisations.
Proposals include creating an exception for museums copying works in their collections without clear rights for the sake of preservation; an exception for reproducing artistic works in material associated with their sale or exhibition without clear rights, and an exception for copying for parody.
Other recommendations include a change in the law to take into account that many orphan works in collections were not created with commercial intent, and so require only a nominal fee; and an exception to prevent private terms and conditions accompanying the supply of content from overriding these copyright exceptions.
The report also recommended establishing a Digital Copyright Exchange, which would streamline the complex rights clearance process, drastically reducing costs and labour spent on tracing rights holders, licence fees and negotiating permissions.
Over the next few weeks ministers will decide which of the Hargreaves Review recommendations they plan to support. The MA is supporting the Museums Copyright Group in a campaign to ensure the proposals that particularly benefit museums are implemented.
Intellectual property consultant Naomi Korn said: "These recommendations have the potential to bring museums benefits at a time of cuts, closures and pressures on resources.
"[They could] lead to cost and labour savings for us and reduce the level of risk our organisations face on a daily basis... Ministers are deciding now about whether they support these recommendations or not, so immediate action is required."
Stressing the importance of lobbying for the proposals, Korn added: “It is, I believe, highly unlikely that anything like the Hargreaves Review will come around again.”
To download the letter template, click here (word)
After personalising the letter, please send it to your local MP via www.writetothem.com
Update
04.07.2011
Apologies to anyone who had problems downloading the letter template. This was because it was saved as a .docx file. It has now been replaced with a .doc file, which should allow most versions of Word and associated software to open it.
The Hargreaves Review was carried out in May to assess how far the UK’s intellectual property framework supports innovation, and to recommend changes that would better support creativity and economic growth.
Following the review, a summary report made a number of key recommendations to boost access to works held by cultural heritage organisations.
Proposals include creating an exception for museums copying works in their collections without clear rights for the sake of preservation; an exception for reproducing artistic works in material associated with their sale or exhibition without clear rights, and an exception for copying for parody.
Other recommendations include a change in the law to take into account that many orphan works in collections were not created with commercial intent, and so require only a nominal fee; and an exception to prevent private terms and conditions accompanying the supply of content from overriding these copyright exceptions.
The report also recommended establishing a Digital Copyright Exchange, which would streamline the complex rights clearance process, drastically reducing costs and labour spent on tracing rights holders, licence fees and negotiating permissions.
Over the next few weeks ministers will decide which of the Hargreaves Review recommendations they plan to support. The MA is supporting the Museums Copyright Group in a campaign to ensure the proposals that particularly benefit museums are implemented.
Intellectual property consultant Naomi Korn said: "These recommendations have the potential to bring museums benefits at a time of cuts, closures and pressures on resources.
"[They could] lead to cost and labour savings for us and reduce the level of risk our organisations face on a daily basis... Ministers are deciding now about whether they support these recommendations or not, so immediate action is required."
Stressing the importance of lobbying for the proposals, Korn added: “It is, I believe, highly unlikely that anything like the Hargreaves Review will come around again.”
To download the letter template, click here (word)
After personalising the letter, please send it to your local MP via www.writetothem.com
Update
04.07.2011
Apologies to anyone who had problems downloading the letter template. This was because it was saved as a .docx file. It has now been replaced with a .doc file, which should allow most versions of Word and associated software to open it.
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