Access to Knowledge

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The Access to Knowledge theme explores the balance between private property rights and the public interest in access to information.

Sub-topics include exceptions and limitations to copyright, the public domain, follow-on innovation, public spaces and user rights such as the right to repair. Appropriately balancing intellectual property policy involves consideration of the effects of regulation on creators as well as users, innovators and cultural heritage.

This theme is led by Kris Erickson. Please read our earlier introductory blog post or watch a short video for details.

PROJECTS

Illustration by Sophie Natta, depicting Michelangelo's David with red lipstick, a woman, a hand taking a photo with a phone, two hands painting the statue, and web interfaces.Project: Access to KnowledgeOpen Licensing Models in the Cultural Heritage Sector
12 May 2025

Open Licensing Models in the Cultural Heritage Sector

The purpose of this study is to advance understanding of how open licensing is being used in CHIs in practice…
Project: Access to KnowledgeProject: Public DomainEvidence on Technological Protection Measures: impact on research, education and preservation
16 June 2024

Evidence on Technological Protection Measures: impact on research, education and preservation

Exceptions to copyright exist in Europe and elsewhere to enable beneficial uses such as research and preservation, however the legal…
Project: Access to KnowledgeProject: Competition & MarketsThe Law and Economics of e-lending in Europe
14 October 2022

The Law and Economics of e-lending in Europe

Libraries are vital providers of access to information, ideas and works for individual citizens, communities and organisations. As such, intellectual…
Project: Access to KnowledgeProject: Public DomainFreedom of panorama: making copyright Law (in)visible
22 April 2021

Freedom of panorama: making copyright Law (in)visible

Does copyright allow us to photograph a building? (yes) a loch? (yes) public sculpture? (maybe) a mural? (no). These answers…
Project: Access to KnowledgeProject: Public DomainCopyrightUser.eu
3 February 2021

CopyrightUser.eu

This project – part of the EU Horizon 2020 funded consortium reCreating Europe: Rethinking digital copyright law for a culturally…
Public Domain by Davide BonazziProject: Access to KnowledgeProject: Public DomainESRC The value of the public domain project
2 February 2021

ESRC The value of the public domain project

This knowledge exchange scheme brings together academics (from the disciplines of law, media & communication studies, management and economics), policy…