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The Scottish Cultural Resources Network (SCRAN)

A Note to The Capital Scot from
Bill Pike, Edinburgh, Scotland

"We thought it would be useful to draw your attention to a countrywide scheme for Scotland which has been developed, as a public institution, to allow controlled access to digital images and representations while protecting the rights of the IPR owners.

"Since exchanging digital images of human history and material culture may become more common, we believe that the details of the Scottish scheme may make you feel more comfortable when dealing with Scottish Institutions engaged in The Scottish Cultural Resources Network (SCRAN) projects.

"SCRAN is a membership organisation with over 100 institutions in Scotland taking part. It is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity. Its main funding comes from the UK National Lottery and its roles are:

• To grant-aid to organisations to allow the digitisation of national treasures.
• In return, to gain a non exclusive educational licence.
• To ensure the created digital image remains the property of the original rights owner.
• To licence legitimate educational users of the digital images and police that licence use.
• To protect the digital rights of our member organisations.
• To act as an agent and make a royalty return if any such images may be used commercially.

"Just some of our prestigious member contributors include:

• National Museums of Scotland
• National Library of Scotland
• Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland
• Historic Scotland
• Glasgow Museums and Art Galleries
• and many more local collections in museums, galleries and universities.

"All SCRAN material is digitised to full commercial quality as a safeguard for the future but the material available to education is half screen size at 72 dpi 256 colours, while the publicly accessible system shows only thumbnails. An authentication system is used to allow educational access and every downloaded image is invisibly coded with IPR owner and licence details. Educational licences stipulate that these downloaded images may not be used in any venture which makes a profit and may not be placed on any public facing system or media. All rights are reserved. Material provided on CD-ROM carries the same licence.

"A number of institutions wish to carry out commercial sales for themselves so the SCRAN system can block such access but, for those which wish this, an agreed tariff structure and transaction system can be provided with royalty payments. This applies to both the on-line system and CD-ROMs.

"This model has been widely commended in Europe and by the UK Department of Culture Media and Sport and for the UK National Grid for Learning. SCRAN is a member of the UK NGfL.

"The web site is fully operational at http://www.scran.ac.uk. Please note that you will only have access to thumbnails.

"SCRAN would be happy to grant aid the digitisation of Scottish material held outside Scotland for educational purposes in our home country with the full rights remaining with the contributor; and act as a watchdog to protect your rights; or take such material on deposit and licence access.

"If you require any further information, don't hesitate to get in contact. E-mail bill@scran.ac.uk.

"Kind regards
Bill Pike"

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