Minister for Skills, Research & Innovation Damien English has welcomed the introduction of an exception to copyright law that will allow cultural institutions in the State to digitise certain works in their collections where the identity of the owner or owners is unknown and which are therefore referred to as ‘orphan’ works. The changes came into effect on 29 October.
Up until now it has not been possible, due to rights clearance issues, to digitise works of this nature and make them available online.
The Regulations give effect to an EU directive that aims to make Europe’s cultural heritage available online, across the EU, by providing greater access to works in the collections of European cultural institutions.
Announcing the changes, Minister English said: “The change introduced in these Regulations heralds a small but important change in Irish copyright law that facilitates the making available online by our cultural institutions of important literary, artistic and other cultural works to promote learning and disseminate culture to meet greater societal needs.
“This is the first step in the right direction to meet a definite need in terms of a digitisation project at European level to meet cultural needs.”
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