Legal issues

Guidance on copyright, data protection and licensing the use of the material in your collection.

Copyright

Duration of copyright flow chart, UK (link to external website)

How long does copyright last? This accessible flowchart is ideal for quick reference.
Source: National Archives

Copyright and related rights, UK (link to external website)

This National Archives guide covers the most common copyright questions
Source: National Archives

Understanding Copyright (UK) (link to external website)

Clear and accessible factsheet and webinar series
Source: Scottish Council on Archives and CREATe (UK Copyright and
Creative Economy Centre)

Copyright & Related Rights in the Republic of Ireland (link to external website)

Government guidance: a good reference document for Irish groups.
Source: Intellectual Property Office of Ireland

Heritage Organisations and Exceptions to Copyright, UK (link to external website)

A guide to fair dealing exceptions to copyright that specifically benefit heritage organisations
Source: Heritage Digital/Naomi Korn Associates

Working with volunteers: Copyright considerations (link to external website)

A useful specific guide for an area groups may not have considered.
Source: Heritage Digital/Naomi Korn Associates

GDPR and Data Protection

Personal Data (link to external website)

A one-page overview of the types of personal data held by community archives
Source: Norfolk Record Office

Data Protection for Community Groups (UK) (link to external website)

A plain-English summary of data protection responsibilities for small, volunteer-run community groups, including how to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Source: Resource Centre

Archives and Data Protection Law in the UK (link to external website)

An overview from the National Archives of the key implications of the data protection legislation for archives and archiving.
Source: National Archives

GDPR: A Guide for Irish Nonprofits (Ireland) (link to external website)

Overview and summary of GDPR or Irish community organisations, voluntary and charity sectors.
Source: The Wheel

Licensing

Permissions: take down policy and licences (link to external website)

A one-page overview of Creative Commons licenses and having a take-down policy
Source: Norfolk Record Office , Community Archives Toolkit

Share your work: a guide to using a Creative Commons licence (link to external website)

The free, easy-to-use Creative Commons copyright licenses provide a simple, standardized way to give your website visitors permission to share and use the content you publish.
Source: Creative Commons