Photographs by David Waterman. (c) Estate of David Waterman
Built on decades of sectoral experience
Orphan Works Hub was founded by Naomi Korn and colleagues to address copyright challenges faced by the cultural heritage sector in digitising their collections. Naomi has spent her career within the sector, advising on copyright, and is an authority on orphan works. The OWH team combines copyright and orphan works expertise with extensive experience in tech, finance and law and works closely with the sector experts at Naomi Korn Associates.
The high cost of performing conventional diligent searches and managing copyright uncertainty has historically led to a “black hole” of digital cultural, locking up access to important cultural assets. Naomi’s academic work has led her to research every solution that has been proposed to the orphan works problem but until recently, the fundamental obstacle of the cost versus benefit has meant that no solution has been truly viable. OWH services involves focused use of agentic AI, and partnerships with rights holders and professional organisations, to reduce costs of rights clearance to a level where access to digital cultural assets can be unlocked.
Built on decades of sectorial experience
Orphan Works Hub was founded by Naomi Korn and colleagues to address copyright challenges faced by the cultural heritage sector in digitising their collection assets. Naomi has spent her career within the sector, advising on copyright, and is an authority on orphan works. The OWH team combines copyright and orphan works expertise with extensive experience in tech, finance and law and works closely with the sector experts at Naomi Korn Associates.
The high cost of performing conventional diligent searches and managing copyright uncertainty has historically led to a “black hole” of digital cultural, locking up access to important cultural assets. Naomi’s academic work has led her to research every solution that has been proposed to the orphan works problem but until recently, the fundamental obstacle of the cost versus benefit has meant that no solution has been truly viable. OWH services involves focused use of agentic AI, and partnerships with rights holders and professional organisations, to reduce costs of rights clearance to a level where access to digital cultural assets can be unlocked.
Trusted by institutions across the UK cultural heritage sector
Founded by the sector's leading authority on orphan works
The expertise behind Orphan Works Hub
Naomi Korn - CEO
One of the of the UK’s leading specialists in orphan works.
Her 2009 study – ‘In from the Cold’ provided evidence, which was used by the UK Government, to develop orphan works legislative provisions in the UK and referenced internationally. She is the co-author of several books and is currently undertaking a PhD at the University of Edinburgh researching the management of orphan works post Brexit. Naomi and the consulting business she established and has led for over 23 years – Naomi Korn Associates – provide trusted sectorial support on copyright, orphan works and data protection and vital industry connections.
Andrew Burgess - CTO
A management consultant, author, speaker and is an authority on Artificial Intelligence.
He advises organisations on their AI strategy, its application in business and its ethics. He is the author of ‘The Executive Guide to Artificial Intelligence (Palgrave MacMillan, 2018/24), Visiting Senior Fellow in AI and RPA at Loughborough University and Expert-in-Residence for AI at Imperial College’s Enterprise Lab. He is a member of the AI Committee at the British Standards Institute.
Ian Soanes - CFO
An accountant with a background in growth company corporate finance and financial consulting.
After he qualified in the consulting division of Deloitte, he worked in investment banking businesses before joining the team that formed Cenkos Securities. For the past 10 years he has been supporting the growth of early-stage businesses as a consultant and CFO.
Quentin Solt - Counsel
A corporate finance lawyer who has been involved in multiple early stage companies.
He was previously a partner at what is now BCLP, he consulted with international law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and was principal at his own law firm which he sold to a West End boutique firm. He is a non-executive director at several fast growth companies.
Your long-term partner
The vast number of orphan works and the significant work required to bring them into use means that we see ourselves as a long-term partner to cultural heritage institutions, managing their copyright exposure and allowing them to liberate tens of millions of culturally valuable works.
