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Sunday, July 19, 2009

Public Domain Art?

The National Portrait Gallery are in a spat with Wikipedia according to the BBC, as a result of high resolution art images uploaded by a volunteer. The NPG has recently completed a digitisation programme. The gallery says it normally recuperates costs by licensing images to books and magazines. This is now in danger because of Wikipedia´s actions and furthermore in breach of UK copyright. In their defence, Wikipedia say that the works are public domain, for the people and restricting access in such a way is not in the interest of the common good and that they are acting as if the works are property of the gallery. Looks like another case of copyright law not being in sync with new technologies and what should be understood as a copy and fair use.

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