I know there has have been numerous discussions of copyright of images used on
the web,many of them dealing with anxiety over duplication/modification by
users, but I have a question on this topic that I do not recall seeing
discussed.

When an art museum (or exhibition management company) organizes and circulates
an art exhibition, there is usually a stipulation in the exhibition contract
that a certain number of images will be provided for public relations use.
These are submitted to the borrowing institutions for use in promoting the
exhibition, particularly with the press, but also for use on posters,
invitations and the like.

In turn, in loan agreements with collectors who contibute to the show, there is
often standard language concerning the right to use photographs of a work for
publicity purposes, although the collector may negotitate this passage and have
it tricken from the agreement. (At any rate, these are procedures we deal with
at the Indianapolis Museum of Art.)

Are any museums specifically adding language concerning digital reproduction of
works for use in on-line publications as part of loan agreements or exhibition
contracts? What is the thinking on this?

Anne Robinson
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