Legal representatives of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe have reached an informal agreement on legislation to enable cultural heritage institutions to digitise ‘orphan’ works in their collections and make them available online. 

In an announcement from the European Parliament, Lidia Geringer de Oedenberg (S&D, PL), who is steering the legislation through Parliament and led the negotiations, welcomed the deal as a: “first step towards harmonisation of copyright rules in the EU”.

de Oedenberg commented, “The regulation will promote culture and finally make it possible to make some hidden treasures available to the general public”.

Although not a formal deal, the informal agreement sends a clear signal of intent on behalf of the Parliament. The proposals will now require ratification through the Legal Affairs Committee before presentation to Council and Parliament.

For more information, read the European Parliament announcement at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/sv/pressroom/content/20120606IPR46383/html/Orphan-works-informal-deal-done-between-MEPs-and-Council.