Joe Merante at Creative Commons is reporting that the UK Portrait Gallery is threatening legal action against Wikipedia because a user uploaded digital photos of public domain works. The information comes via Wikipedia signpost and Wikipedia user “Dcoetzee.” OEN did not find any information about the lawsuit on the UK Portrait Gallery’s website. From Merante’s blog post:
Restricting access via copyfraud or DRM defeats the purpose of the public domain, and damages the reputation and mission of the institution holding the original copies of these works. However, the NPG’s disappointing actions should not overshadow the many institutions working to make the public domain accessible to you, the public. The Commons on Flickr is a great example of 27 private and public institutions from all over the world who are making works available with “no known copyright restrictions”. Working with, not against, cultural institutions highlights some of the ways cultural heritage institutions and communities can work together to mutual benefit.
Also reported by Slashdot.
