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.

The first phase of the study, announced in November 2011, will examine the findings and recommendations of the earlier Hargreaves Review. As part of this process, Hooper has been tasked by Business Secretary Vince Cable with clarifying the respective roles of rightsholders, publishers and other IP stakeholders.

The second phase will recommend solutions to the issues raised in the first – solutions which are likely to include a recommendation for a Digital Copyright Exchange to act as a ‘clearing house’ for rights exchange (originally mooted in the Hargreaves Report).

The deadline for submissions of evidence is the 10th February 2012, and further information and details of how to respond can be found at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/about/press/press-release/press-release-2012/press-release-20120104.htm.

Although loosely-defined, ‘Public Sector Information’ is broadly categorised as ‘information produced by public bodies’, and includes maps, traffic, financial, legal, meteorological and other types of data. The original Public Sector Information Directive was adopted by the Commission in 2003.

The package of open data measures includes:

• An Open Data Strategy for Europe, which seeks to increase the amount of PSI licensed for open re-use
• Proposed changes to the PSI Directive (including the withdrawal of the existing exemption for museums and libraries
• New proposals concerning the Commission’s own data

The changes are informed by the Commission’s commitment to the Digital Agenda 2020, a strategic framework which seeks to promote economic growth and business innovation through digital literacy and citizenship. Evidence was provided by the 2011 report produced by Graham Vickery and by the research undertaken by the Collections Trust with Ithaka and Curtis & Cartwright.

The Commission’s communication about the Open Data Strategy, along with the detailed proposals of changes to the PSI Directive can be downloaded from their website.

The new resources are accompanied by a publication ‘Copyright: A Practical Guide’ (written by Naomi Korn), which provides a simple introduction to the key issues and practices involved in ensuring effective Rights Management for museums.

Information available includes simple factsheets, introductory articles and template documents which can be used in small to medium-sized museums.

Visit the Collections Link ‘Copyright’ section today