Copyright law and Orphans: Suggested solution

Libraries have been traditional homes of the literary “orphans” (works whose owners are hard to find). The Internet Archive and Prelinger Archives have filed suit to be able to continue this role into the digital age.

The copyright office asked for suggested solutions to the problem of current copyright that keeps orphans from being preserved, from being accessible, and from being built upon to make new works.

The Internet Archive with the help of the Samuelson Law Clinic at UCAL Berkeley submitted suggestions on how libraries and archives, at least, could be allowed to do our traditional jobs.

The submission may be worth at least skimming– it builds on our experiences in building the Internet Archive.

We are pleased that they at least asked for input. Let us hope that they affirm a future for libraries and archives.

-brewster