A briefing for libraries, archives, and cultural organisations on the removal of the orphan works copyright exception in the case of a no deal Brexit.

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The Government has announced that if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal, the orphan works copyright exception will be removed from law. If this happens, works already published by libraries and archives in the UK under this exception will be infringing copyright.

The British Library announced this week that in the case of a no deal Brexit it plans to suspend public access to its digitised Spare Rib Archive resource, which heavily relies on the orphan works exception.

LACA has prepared this briefing for libraries and archives in relation to the possible withdrawal of the orphan works exception. This briefing is for cultural organisations that rely on this exception or that planned to use this exception in future.