Anarchy in the UK: An analysis of the inconsistencies in UK museums’ copyright claims over digital reproductions of public domain works | Douglas McCarthy

​​In our online, globally connected era, cultural institutions are vital custodians of history and culture, preserving and making accessible millions of digitised artworks, manuscripts, and objects. Yet in the United Kingdom, a complex and inconsistent approach to copyright over digital reproductions of public domain works is creating barriers to access, let alone reuse. Some institutions claim copyright over their digital reproductions, while others do not, leaving potential users – such as researchers, educators, and creatives – facing a confusing landscape.

This article draws on newly acquired Freedom of Information (FoI) data from sixteen UK cultural institutions to explore their policies and practices around copyright. It highlights the stark disparities in interpretations of copyright law, examines the impact on access and reuse, and calls for a unified, transparent approach that reflects both the law and the public mandate of these institutions. This article argues that UK cultural institutions’ inconsistent approaches to copyright hinder public access to cultural heritage and it calls for a unified, transparent framework that aligns with established legal principles.