Collections unlocked
Orphan Works Hub provides a range of services to help our clients manage copyright uncertainty and publish their collections with confidence
Trusted by institutions across the UK cultural heritage sector
Orphan works resolved with confidence
Orphan works are creative materials whose copyright owners are unknown or cannot be found. Uncertainty about copyright and the manual costs of carrying out diligent searches, creates risks and costs, preventing hundreds of millions of works from being made publicly accessible.
We help cultural heritage institutions navigate uncertainty and resource pressures by providing a range of services. These can support our clients achieve clarity and confidence, enabling valuable cultural assets to be unlocked.
Millions
of orphan works in UK cultural heritage collections are locked up creating a black hole of digital culture
50%
Up to 50% of some collections can be orphan works, particularly those heavy with documentary photographs, sound recordings, and unpublished manuscripts
90%
The cost savings of using OWH versus conventional, manual diligent searches.
From search to long-term management
We support the full lifecycle of copyright clearance and orphan work management, from identifying the status of a work to managing what happens next
Search
Our secure AI-powered diligent search platform reviews the copyright status of a work and assesses whether the work is an orphan, following the UK Intellectual Property Office’s diligent search requirements. The results are published in formats which align with the SPECTRUM collections management standard
Connect
If a rights holder is identified, we handle the conversation, confirm ownership, agree an appropriate basis for use, and ensure the process is completed quickly, and efficiently
Manage
If a copyright claim arises after a work has been treated as an orphan, we handle all communication, assess the validity of the claim, and help reach a suitable resolution
Maintain
Copyright records need to stay current. We provide periodic repetition of the search process, refreshing assessments and updating records so rights management information remain accurate over time
News & Insight
