FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • The Open Heritage Statement is a collective call for equitable access to heritage in the public domain. Drafted by the Open Heritage (TAROCH) Coalition, led by Creative Commons, it identifies barriers to access and outlines shared values, principles and actions to overcome them.

  • Any government, institution, or organization that supports equitable access to public domain heritage can sign. For example, signatories may include libraries, archives, museums, universities, or aligned NGOs.

    See the full list of signatories to the Open Heritage Statement.

  • The Statement is meant for governments, organizations, and institutions to sign. Individuals can’t sign, but your support is still vital. You can help amplify equitable access to public domain heritage in the digital environment in other ways. Use this form to connect with us and learn more.

  • Read more here.

    By signing, you:

    Demonstrate agreement with the shared values and principles that underpin equitable access to heritage.  

    Recognize the need to address the numerous undue and unfair barriers to such access.

    Add your voice to a global call for equitable access to heritage in the digital environment 

    Bring open heritage onto the international policy agenda.

  • No. Signing the Statement is a voluntary commitment. It signals support for the Statement, but it is not legally binding.

  • The Statement supports ongoing international conversations about a potential UNESCO standard-setting instrument on open heritage. Signing the Statement shows that there is global interest and momentum behind this issue.

  • This is addressed in Article 16 of the Open Heritage Statement. We acknowledge the need to transparently engage with, consult and involve communities of origin to enable free, prior and informed consent in decision-making processes involving both physical and digital heritage.

  • The Statement addresses matters related to Indigenous heritage in the Preamble at paragraphs t) u) and v) as well as in Articles 16 and 17.

    In short, the Statement recognizes that there are other legal and ethical considerations to take into account when making heritage openly accessible, such as data protection, privacy, and cultural sensitivities around heritage, among others, as well as respect for the 2007 United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and for principles of participation and free, prior and informed consent, together with the need to uphold the FAIR principles and CARE Principles for Indigenous Data Governance. These considerations mean that some heritage materials may not be suitable for open access.

RETURN HOME

  • The Statement has been drafted by the Open Heritage (TAROCH) Coalition, a global alliance of 60+ organizations led by Creative Commons.

    See our “About” section for more information.

  • After signing, you will receive follow-up guidance with communications assets. These resources make it easy to share your commitment with your networks.

  • The Statement identifies 17 barriers to equitable access. Each barrier is paired with a commitment to action.

  • No. Signing the Statement is free.

  • Approved signatories will be listed publicly on the website’s “Signatories” page.

  • Open heritage contributes directly to the SDGs by:

    • Expanding access to education (Goal 4).

    • Supporting inclusive, resilient communities (Goal 11).

    • Promoting access to information and participation in cultural life (Goal 16).escription

  • Creative Commons provides three primary avenues for capacity building aligned with the Open Heritage Statement: an international Open Culture Platform for peer exchange, an online CC Certificate for training on copyright and open licensing, and the Open Heritage Coalition, which supports collaborative advocacy through regional groups. Together, these initiatives help institutions and authorities develop the skills and partnerships needed to preserve and open heritage resources responsibly.