Intellectual Property

Intellectual property can be a complicated and convoluted aspect of managing collections. Institutions will find themselves in possession of objects that have intellectual property rights attached to them. It is important to be aware of, and respect those rights when you use these objects  in exhibitions, printed publications, or online. The term “objects” refers to both two and three dimensional items and reproductions of them. In this module, you will come to know the standards that libraries, archives, and museums must consider when dealing with intellectual property, and what constitutes fair use for different types of organizations.

Webinar
Intellectual Property from the Library/Archives Point-of-View webinar is presented by Dean DeBolt, University Librarian, Special Collections and West Florida Archives, John C. Pace Library, University of West Florida.
Museum Point-of-View is presented by Laura Nemmers, Registrar, Harn Museum of Art.

Webinar Length: 40 min. 43 sec.
Note: When viewing the webinar, a new browser page will open.

Activity
Discussion Question: What kind of consideration does your institution give to the intellectual property rights connected to objects it would like to digitize? Are there times when an object is digitized before the status of rights is known? If so, how do you handle potential reproductions?

Samples
Boynton Beach City Library Archives – Intellectual Property (.pdf)

Stranahan House – Intellectual Property (.pdf)