The Collections Trust and Copyright
The Collections Trust is committed to promoting awareness and understanding of copyright and related Intellectual Property Rights for museums and other collection holding organisations. We are the lead organisation in the UK for the provision of support, advice and training to collections in their management, use and exploitation of rights. We are also active in promoting the interests of collections and copyright to Government and key stakeholders.
The Collections Trust's Intellectual Property Manifesto for Museums
The Collections Trust has published an Intellectual Property (IP) Manifesto, which aims to increase understanding of the relationship between IP issues and best practice in the management of collections. It sets out the Collections Trust's priorities for delivering services which will best enable museums to take advantage of the commercial, creative and educational opportunities presented by effective management and use of IP.
IP Resources
The Collections Trust believes that every facet of managing a cultural organisation has an impact on the preservation and accessibility of its collections. Therefore, IP, and a responsible approach to the management of rights, is central to the effective running of a cultural organisation.
Online
The Collections Trust provides a range of IP resources and standards to support professionals in their management and use of IP. These include factsheets, how to do guides, and other resources. Many of these can be found on Collections Link.
Training and Events
The Collections Trust also runs a range of day and half-day copyright courses as well as copyright focussed events and seminars.
SPECTRUM
The SPECTRUM standard includes a procedure for Rights management and guidance on rights throughout the standard.
IP Advisory Committee for Collections
The Collections Trust's work is supported by the IP Advisory Committee for Collections - an independent expert panel.
Other legal issues
The Collections Trust is also actively involved in developments with other legal issues including Freedom of Information and Data Protection and their implications for museums. We provide a number factsheets on these areas.
Further information
If you are interested in copyright in museums, the one of the best place to start is the Museums Copyright Group website. There are a number of other places you can go for further information:
