The Museums Copyright Group was formed in 1996 to answer an increasing number of concerns about copyright expressed by professionals working in the museums and galleries community. These concerns were prompted by:

• The awareness that museums and galleries were acting in isolation with the result that expertise was not shared and resources were wasted;
• The changes in legislation resulting principally from harmonisation within the European Union;
• The increasing need for museums and galleries to raise income;
• The spreading use of digital technology, including the Internet.

The Group now has members representing museums, galleries, archives and libraries including national and regional institutions, and those attached to universities and local authorities.

The Museums Copyright Group is constituted as an unincorporated association under a Governing Document