KB signs new periodical agreement with authors’ rights organisations

On 9 July, the KB signed a new agreement with the authors’ rights organisations LIRA and Pictoright. This makes it possible for newspapers and magazines (periodicals) that are no longer in circulation to be republished online. It has become a national umbrella agreement so other Dutch libraries, archives and museums can also join. The agreement will come into force on 1 January 2025.

Online platforms that share written heritage, such as Delpher.nl and DBNL.org, contain many (undisclosed) periodicals with contributions that are still under copyright. To honour these copyrights, the KB hasn't republished periodicals that were issued after 1995. In the new agreement, the KB and the authors’ rights organisations LIRA and Pictoright have concurred that publications up to 10 years old can be shared online, as of January 1^st.

In return, freelancer authors and image creators will receive a compensation, or they can opt out if so desired. Apart from this agreement, the KB shall also sign new contracts with individual publishers that hold copyrights. 

This new contract is a consolidation and an update of contracts that were already in force between the rights organisations and the KB. There is now a single contract for all out-of-commerce periodicals: publications which are still protected by copyright but no longer in circulation. The new contract makes it possible to host publications up to 10 years old online and does not have a limit to the number of pages. The contract also applies to all websites and services, not just the KB’s but also those of other Dutch heritage foundations with periodicals in their collections. 

The KB holds the respect of copyrights in high regard and is committed to settling just agreements with rightsholders. Thanks to this new umbrella agreement, heritage foundations are able to republish far more recent newspapers and magazines online, allowing users to conduct more up to date research.