European Libraries Internet Copyright

Few would dispute the importance of preserving and providing access to cultural heritage and the key role of libraries in this endeavour. In an increasingly digital world, initiatives such as Google's Book Search Project have digitised broad swathes of the world's literary heritage and have enabled search engines to take on functions once exclusive to libraries. Before the advent of digital technology, libraries acquired copyrighted works in tangible hard copies. Those copies were then preserved in their original form and access was granted either on the premises or through lending schemes. Today, libraries often handle works that are born digital and, in many cases, have never existed in tangible form. In addition, there is a demand to digitize analogue works, inter alia to make them available on-line. These developments and the high volume of in-copyright works in library collections create tensions with copyright law and constitute a major challenge for libraries and other cultural heritage institutions wishing to operate in the digital world. This book examines libraries online use of in-copyright works from their collections and how such use is affected by copyright. In particular, the book examines whether the system of extended collective licences could facilitate online access without territorial limitations to in-copyright works in libraries, within Europe or more specifically within the European Economic Area (EEA).