Berlin – The publisher and editors of "Copyright for Museums and Archives" will be unveiling the first edition of the book this evening (Thursday) in Berlin. Featuring key input from Prof. Winfried Bullinger, copyright expert and partner at CMS Hasche Sigle, the book is based on an intensive dialogue between lawyers and museum/archive specialists.
The work is co-edited by Markus Bretzel, until recently Director of Administration of Stiftung Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin (SDTB), and Jörg Schmalfuß, Head of the SDTB Historical Archive. In addition to Prof. Winfried Bullinger, the authors include three other lawyers from CMS Hasche Sigle: Dr Katharina Garbers-von Boehm, Sabine Mußotter and Dr Ole Jani.
While the digitalisation of inventories has long been common practice in most museums and archives, it does raise complicated legal issues. What is an archive or museum permitted to do with the digitalised data? Which items can be utilised without rights clearance? Who is the point of contact where rights clearance is needed?
The authors deal systematically with key aspects of museum practice and suggest legal solutions that are easy for staff to implement. The book uses numerous images to illustrate various technical terms, such as "photograph" (in contrast to "a photographic work"). The handbook explains how material can be used at computer-equipped reading desks and which files may be sent by e-mail or uploaded onto the Internet. Rules of thumb and checklists for rights clearance as well as tips on dealing with collecting societies are backed up by model clauses.
The handbook provides an in-depth guide to all the key issues for both lawyers and non-legal readers.
Bullinger / Bretzel / Schmalfuß (eds.): Copyright for Museums and Archives, 1st Edition 2010, 106 pages, Nomos, ISBN 978-3-8329-5918-0
