UK Libraries Protest Ridiculous Copyright Laws By Showing Empty Cases Of Works They Can't Display

from the take-a-stand dept

A bunch of libraries in the UK are protesting ridiculous copyright terms by displaying empty cases where they say letters written during World War I should go, but won't, because figuring out how to properly license the work under copyright law is impossible. If you can't read the sign, it says:

There would have been a letter from a First World War soldier in this display

But because of current copyright laws, we cannot display the original in this instance.

Join the campaign to free our history. Many unpublished works remain in copyright until 2039, whatever their age.

Tweet a picture of this display with the hashtag #Catch2039

For information on the campaign visit www.cilip.org.uk/freeourhistory

The #Catch2039 hashtag is full of similar images. Here are a few:

This case should contain a #WW1 soldier's letter. B/c of UK copyright laws the letter cannot be displayed #catch2039 pic.twitter.com/U2L6I3SkAv

— Imperial War Museums (@I_W_M) October 29, 2014

Free our history reform #copyright #catch2039. Sign the petition http://t.co/5WuIxQU6SM pic.twitter.com/KZpKjkHXl3

— NKorn (@NKorn) October 29, 2014

Want to see this letter before 2039? Support our campaign to reform #copyright http://t.co/i14a2hZxE7 #catch2039 pic.twitter.com/HB0uQLAflt

— LUL Digital Library (@LULDigital) October 30, 2014

As the Director General of the Imperial War Museum, Diane Lees, notes:

“During the First World War Centenary commemorations, many organisations want to make original unpublished works such as diaries and letters accessible to the public. Because they are still under copyright protection, they cannot do so without seeking permission from the rights holder. This is even more problematic if the rights holders are untraceable.

We are asking everyone who cares about our history, everyone who cares about telling our collective story without restrictions, to join the campaign.”

Because, obviously, without the protections that copyrights grant, why would those soldiers ever have written letters in the first place, right?

It's stories like this that highlight why we find copyright law so problematic. Copyright law creates all sorts of these nonsensical restrictions that no one in their right mind thinks is appropriate. But because the law looks to protect such works for so long, you end up with results like this. A system that didn't automatically protect every work created, but rather required registration and formalities would go a long way towards solving basic problems like this -- and it's absolutely ridiculous that many consider that option to be a non-starter in any discussion of copyright reform.

Filed Under: copyright, libraries, orphan works, uk, world war i
Companies: cilip