Naomi Korn ‘New Exceptions to Copyright will help Museums’ MuseumDevelopmentNetwork blog

On the 14 May 2014, the House of Lords voted in favour of some brand new exceptions to copyright. The laws will be implemented in early June 2014. There are a number of ways in which Museums (and libraries, archives and educational exceptions) will benefit from these new exceptions to copyright which are summarised below:

• Museums, will be able to make unlimited copies of works in their collections for preservation purposes.

• Copies of all copyright works in Museum collections can be made available to members of the public via a dedicated terminal on their premises.

• Disabled users can be provided with an accessible copy of the whole or part of all Museum collection items in copyright as long as a commercially accessible copy suiting their needs is not available.

• Museum libraries and archives can make a single copy of a limited amount of all works in copyright for users, for their non-commercial research or private copying purposes (the whole amount if unpublished and the rights holder has not said no). A declaration needs to be given in writing, although a declaration form does not need to be used, and IF a charge is made, this must be on a cost recovery basis.

• Museum researchers can data/text mine all works in their collection and other items that it has lawful access to, for non-commercial research or private study purposes.

• During the course of any teaching activities taking place at Our museums, staff can use works in copyright to illustrate a point as long as the activity is non-commercial, there is sufficient acknowledgement and the use is fair and reasonable to the rights holder.

• Users can make a copy of a limited amount of all works in copyright in Museum collections for their own non-commercial research or private study purposes.

More about the changes can be found here: http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/hargreaves/hargreaves-copyright/hargreaves-copyright-techreview.htm