Bridging Copyright and Cultural Heritage with the Public Domain

Abstract

Copyright carries incentives for creation and innovation. However, copyright depends in large measure on a robust public domain and a pool of creative building blocks and resources that provide the raw material for new and vibrant works. After all, no work of art or literature can exist in a vacuum without taking up and adding something new. Every piece of copyrightable cultural expression will at some point enter the public domain. Planning for the ultimate preservation of that knowledge has been sorely lacking. Relying on the digital tools alone, without funding and firm commitment risks the loss of our collective cultural heritage.

Keywords: Copyright, Public Domain, Cultural Heritage