BRIGITTE VÉZINA
Creative Commons
"When available rhymes with appropriable"
Handling collections of Indigenous cultural heritage and “traditional cultural expressions” often brings about specific and complex copyright issues: Copyright is often not held by the Indigenous community that holds the cultural heritage; Cultural heritage is subject to customary rules. The world over, calls are being made for users to be mindful when borrowing from other cultures and to respect others’ rights, interests and traditions. Cultural heritage institutions can respectfully handle traditional cultural expressions by ensuring their activities do not conflict with the rights, interests and wishes of the Indigenous communities who identify with them. What policy options are available to bring about a nuanced and respectful approach to opening up GLAM’s collections?