From orphan works, a new role of libraries for the public domain and public interest (Dalle opere orfane, un nuovo ruolo delle biblioteche per il pubblico dominio e l'utilit\`a sociale)

TL;DR

The paper discusses Italy's new orphan works law, emphasizing its focus on public interest, and argues that libraries' enhanced services are vital for the preservation and development of the European public domain and culture.

Contribution

It introduces Italy's orphan works law as a means to prioritize public interest and proposes that library services play a crucial role in advancing the European public domain.

Findings

Law emphasizes public interest over copyright

Libraries can improve services under new law

Reform of European copyright is essential for cultural preservation

Abstract

Summarising the new orphan works law of Italy, we show how it makes the public interest prevail and allows libraries and other beneficiaries to improve their services. We then argue that such services are part of their mission towards the public domain and are a first step for its complete accomplishment, by the work of each and a reform of european copyright. Failing that, European culture will disappear. -- Sintetizzando le nuove norme sulle opere orfane, mostriamo come esse affermino la prevalenza dell'interesse pubblico e consentano a biblioteche e altri enti beneficiari di migliorare i propri servizi. Sosteniamo quindi che questi si inquadrano nella loro missione nei confronti del pubblico dominio e sono un primo passo per la sua completa realizzazione, mediante il lavoro di ciascuno e la riforma del diritto d'autore europeo. In caso contrario, la cultura europea sparir\`a.