Cover illustration: Medals by Belgian medallist Alfons Mauquoy

Every year, KBR joins forces with meemoo and Wikimedia Belgium to organize Public Domain Day. In 2025, this will be celebrated on January 9.

Would you like to find out what various institutions are doing in 2025 to make works in the public domain accessible? Join us on January 9!

What is the public domain?

The public domain is the collection of all creative works that are not (or no longer) subject to exclusive intellectual property rights, such as copyright and neighbouring rights. Every year, new works enter the public domain because in many countries, copyright protections expire 70 years after the death of the author or artist.

The legal status does not mean that this material is also automatically accessible. During the Public Domain Day, we will take a closer look at the legal, financial, technical and institutional barriers that prevent the public from accessing this content even after copyright protection expires and discuss how those barriers can be overcome.

Would the public domain day be interesting to you?

Do you work in a GLAM organisation and are you curious about what actions you can pursue to open up your public domain collections, and become part of the international, ever-growing openGLAM movement? The Public Domain Day 2025, and in particular the Belgian track, are an ideal opportunity to get inspired. 

Are you a policymaker who would like to learn more about the public domain and the many challenges that exist in this context? We would kindly invite you to join us for the European track!

Together with our numerous (international) partners, we will take a look at the public domain from a wide range of perspectives, so everyone is welcome!

Programme

In order to discuss the Public Domain from as many angles as possible, this year, we have decided to offer a choice of two tracks for the morning session.

09:00 – Welcome

09:30 – 11:00 – Plenary session

11:00 – 13:00 – Choice between two tracks: Belgian track – European track

Belgium track (Room: Concert)

Held mainly in Dutch, the Belgian track will highlight developments in the public domain in Belgium and beyond. The sessions will revolve around showcasing recently unlocked public domain works and the (re)use of public domain material. The track will also host the Wiki Loves Heritage Belgium award ceremony.

Confirmed speakers: Noël Slangen (Marc Sleen Foundation), Jan Margot (Culture Platform Dilbeek), Geert Van Pamel (Wikimedia Belgium), Piet Janssens (Royal Library of Belgium), Bart Magnus (meemoo)

European track (Room: Panorama)

Held in English, the European track will discuss some of the biggest limiting factors for the Public Domain and highlight ongoing initiatives and projects at the European and international levels that aim to overcome these barriers.

Confirmed speakers: Maarten Zeinstra (Open Nederland), Brigitte Vézina (Creative Commons), Leander Nielbock (Communia), Paul Keller (Open Future)

13:00 – 14:00 – Lunch

14:00 – 17:00 – Plenary session: In the afternoon, we will look at the handling of the public domain by cultural heritage organisations and policies through a European lens. You will learn more about European policies and the impact of new technologies (such as 3D and AI) on the public domain, among other things.

17:00 – 18:00 – Reception

Pratical information

• Thursday 9th January 2025, from 9:00 to 5:00
• Free registration via this link. Please note that online participation will be limited to the plenary morning session, the European track and the plenary session in the afternoon.
• Language: The Belgian track will be mainly in Dutch, with some possible interventions in French or English, depending on the speaker. The European track as well as the afternoon plenary will be held exclusively in English.

Partners

Communia, Creative Commons, Europeana, Royal Library of Belgium (KBR), meemoo, Wikimedia Belgium, Wikimedia Europe