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- Opening: 12 March 2024
- Closing: 15 May 2024
- Budget: 700k
- Expected duration of the pilot project: 18 months
The repository aims to provide a centralized platform for accessing a wide range of public domain and openly licensed works. This would increase opportunities for the re-use and dissemination of these works in the online environment.
The repository may have several use cases.
For instance, the repository could contribute to support the implementation of the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market (Directive (EU) 2019/790), in particular regarding the provisions on the use of protected content by online content-sharing service providers. Under Article 17, these providers must ensure that content is not blocked where it does not infringe copyright and related rights. Such legitimate uses include uses of content not covered by copyright such as works in the public domain, as well as copyright-protected content where the rightholder have granted permission to use the works under an open licence, provided the conditions therein are respected.
Furthermore, public domain and open licensed material may play a crucial role in advancing AI training and development. A repository of these works would provide a valuable resource that researchers and developers could use to train AI models.
The pilot project should assess the feasibility to provide a one-stop-shop repository for public domain and openly licensed works which could enhance legal certainty on the use of such works.
As part of the feasibility analysis, the pilot project should assess the specific operational or technical challenges of setting up the repository. It should assess the interests of stakeholders to provide information in relation to public domain or openly licensed works and/ or to use the repository, and by assessing the feasibility of implementing the above use cases mentioned above.
The project seeks to develop a secure and robust pan-European prototype repository .
The call for proposals, application forms and all relevant documents are available below.
The Commission will select one proposal. The deadline for applications is 15 May 2024. Grant agreements are expected to be signed in Q4 2024, for projects to start running from December 2024 at the earliest. The work programme foresees a maximum total contribution of EUR 700.000. The EU co-financing is limited to a maximum co-funding rate of 80% of the total action costs. The expected duration of the pilot project is 18 months.
Background information
The call is launched in accordance with Commission Decision C/2023/1699 adopted on 17/03/2023 on the financing of pilot projects and preparatory actions in the field of "Communications Networks, Content and Technology" and the adoption of the work programme for 2023. The call covers the following topic/action: “EU Public repository of Public Domain and openly licensed works”.
It is by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CONNECT).
Further information
- Questions can be sent to CNECT-I2@ec.europa.eu until 15 May 2024. Questions and answers will be published, anonymously, on this page.
- For the copyright web page, see https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/copyright-legislation
- If reading in another language, consult the English original for call documents.