The present, past and future role of Extended Collective Licenses in the European cultural heritage sector

Extended collective licenses raise new potential for the dissemination of cultural heritage institution's collections, and their use for innovative purposes. Successful examples from the Nordic countries can serve as inspiration. The system is now established in EU law, which harmonises its conditions throughout Europe. The success of extended collective licenses has however relied on several factors, legislative will, public funds, representative collective management organisations, a culture that supports the collectivization of rights management and relationships between stakeholders. The system is also limited by the principle of territoriality of copyright law, which limits their potential for cultural heritage institutions. To build the conditions for successful extendedcollective license systems might take time. Cross-border access might require legislative intervention or work on ad-hoc solutions. Cultural heritage institutions have a role to play in how these systems develop.