Archives or Assets?

Abstract

This paper discusses the nature of ownership of archival holdings, with special emphasis placed on issues of intellectual property, and the implications such ownership may have on the exploitation of those works. In order to respect the public?s interest in archival materials, licensing schemes must be skillfully crafted. If archives are careful not to compromise their own fundamental values when seeking to generate revenue, and if they respect the public?s interest in public domain material, they will be able to avoid much of the criticism that many museums have received over their jealous attempts to monopolize and control their collections.