Anarchy in the UK

An Emblematical Print on the South Sea Scheme

An analysis of the inconsistencies in UK museums’ copyright claims over digital reproductions of public domain works Introduction ​​In our online, globally connected era, cultural institutions are vital custodians of…

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Curiouser and curiouser: copyright and the public domain at the V&A

Furnishing fabric 'Alice in Wonderland' (detail) of roller-printed cotton chintz, designed by C. F. A. Voysey for Morton Sundour Fabric Ltd., Great Britain, ca. 1920.

The choices museums make about copyright as they digitise their collections have profound implications for public access.

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28 Vermeers

What does the Rijksmuseum’s landmark Vermeer exhibition tell us about museums, copyright and digital collections today? Vermeer is a major exhibition of the artist’s work at the Rijksmuseum that brings…

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Emerson’s Nature and the commons

Emerson’s understanding of landscape and the public commons, and how they relate to museums and open access in the digital realm.

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Open Access and Art History in the 21st Century: The Case for Open GLAM

Flemish, The Prodigal Son Among the Courtisanes, ca. 1530

A key principle of Open GLAM is that works in the public domain should remain in the public domain once digitised. However, many museums assert copyright in digital reproductions of public domain artworks. How legally legitimate is this?

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