Guideline | 27. August 2025

New publication: Legal decision-making aid for the digitization of accession books and inventory lists

By Lena Kunkel, M. A.

Permalink copied!
Keywords
Art History Law Ethical & Legal Aspects Publication & Availability Guideline Best Practice Cultural Heritage Ethics Personality Rights Provenance Provenance Research Right of Use
Handreichung zur Risikobewertung bei der Open-Access-Veröffentlichung digitalisierter Zugangsbücher und Bestandsverzeichnisse (Gutachten)

Handreichung zur Risikobewertung

"Handreichung zur Risikobewertung bei der Open-Access-Veröffentlichung digitalisierter Zugangsbücher und Bestandsverzeichnisse (Gutachten) Oliver Vettermann / Grischka Petri" CC0 Owner: NFDI4Culture

Accession books and inventory lists are key sources for researching the provenance of artworks – however, their digitization and publication raise complex legal questions. Data protection, personal rights, and copyright law set limits that must be observed when publishing online.

As part of NFDI4Culture and in collaboration with Heidelberg University Library, an interdisciplinary ad hoc working group, supported by the Legal Helpdesk, has developed a practical guide to risk assessment. This is also based on the experiences of the cooperation partners of the Heidelberg Accession Index (HAI), a digital portal with historical acquisition books provided by Heidelberg University Library.

The publication consists of two parts:

  • A decision tree for initial legal guidance and quick assessment of potential risks
  • A detailed legal opinion that systematically examines key issues such as data protection for acquisition data, personal rights, and copyright protection periods

 

The authors are Oliver Vettermann (personal rights and data protection law) and Grischka Petri (copyright law). The report combines legal expertise with art-historical relevance and addresses typical areas of conflict, such as when personal data, property details, or sensitive historical contexts (e.g., the Nazi era) appear in the sources.

Both publications are available open access at arthistoricum.net - ART-Dok:

Decision tree

Oliver Vettermann / Grischka Petri: Handreichung zur Risikobewertung bei der Open-Access-Veröffentlichung digitalisierter Zugangsbücher und Bestandsverzeichnisse (Entscheidungsbaum), Heidelberg: arthistoricum.net, 2025
DOI: 10.11588/artdok.00009725

Expert opinion

Oliver Vettermann / Grischka Petri: Handreichung zur Risikobewertung bei der Open-Access-Veröffentlichung digitalisierter Zugangsbücher und Bestandsverzeichnisse (Gutachten), Heidelberg: arthistoricum.net, 2025
DOI: 10.11588/artdok.00009726