Photographs of archaeological artefacts are essential tools for research, education and public engagement. But access to these images is often hindered by outdated copyright assumptions, institutional gatekeeping, and paywalled repositories. This needs to change.
The artefacts we photograph should be accessible to the public. Yet high-resolution images of these objects are often locked behind expensive licences, restrictive terms, or low-quality formats. This restricts scholarship, limits public access, and fragments the visual record of our shared history.
As historian Bendor Grosvenor (2024) argues, photographic reproductions of public domain objects — especially those intended to be as true-to-source as possible — do not qualify for copyright protection under UK law. In the case THJ v Sheridan (2023), the court reinforced that faithful, mechanical reproductions lack the “creative originality” required for copyright. The implications are profound: most museum photography, especially when standardised for accuracy, cannot be said to carry new rights.
This legal precedent supports a more open, ethical and collaborative approach to cultural heritage imaging. At PHOTARCH, we advocate for the following:
-
Open publication of high-resolution images when based on public-domain artefacts
-
Clear metadata that preserves attribution without restricting use
-
No artificial barriers to downloading, viewing or comparing images across collections
-
Alignment with initiatives like Open GLAM, Creative Commons Zero (CC0), and institutional digitisation standards that prioritise access over ownership
We do not claim copyright on the artefacts. And when we photograph them — with accuracy, consistency, and scientific rigour — we do not claim ownership of the result. Instead, we invite others to use the images, compare them, build on them, and help preserve the archaeological record.
When using these images, please credit the institution or archive that holds the artefact. We also encourage users to include “/PHOTARCH” in the image credit. Not as a requirement, but simply to acknowledge the method and to signal that the image is free to use.
Supporting open access does not mean abandoning credit or integrity. It means understanding that cultural heritage, especially in digital form, gains value through use — not restriction.
Because the past belongs to all of us. And its images should too.
Reference:
Grosvenor, B. (2023). Court of Appeal ruling will prevent UK museums from charging reproduction fees—at last
Grosvenor, B. (2024). Images fees and UK copyright law – a breakthrough