IIIF, PIDs and other technologies can enable attribution and integrity desires related to data quality or image resolution. Another example includes Respect.txt, which is in development to provide a “stopgap against harm” around culturally sensitive materials and operates similarly to robots.txt and humans.txt.[1]
New business models around open access
This might enable networks with SMEs around digitisation services and new business models that support real innovation around the public domain. New opportunities await when access is not mediated and controlled by institutional platforms.
Finally, it is important to highlight that significant portions of the UK’s collections cannot be made available under open licences or public domain tools due to the rights subsisting in the underlying work (e.g., text, book, document, sculpture, architecture, photograph, etc.,).
To aid this understanding, this report recommends integrating user-centric goals into research, communications and technologies. Research itself is for the public. Communications must centre users in definitions and terminologies and package programmes so that the broadest possible user base can understand what is possible around open access. Technologies should allow users to search by licence, download high quality assets with rich context, and support reuse.
This will help bolster understandings of copyright and open access among GLAMs and their publics, as well as understandings around what cannot be made open access with respect to reuse purposes. As one participant commented: “The user-centred focus is about future proofing.”
- ↑ Contact George Oates for further information.
