Journal Home Browse Issues Search Articles Submissions About the Journal Copyright Fixation Podcast Subscribe Go back to Issues NO ONE “OWNS” THAT: METADATA, COPYRIGHT, AND THE PROBLEMS WITH [LIBRARY] VENDOR AGREEMENTS 72 J. Copyright Soc'y 621 Kyle K. Courtney Director of Copyright and Information Policy, Harvard Library Kathleen DeLaurenti irector of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University’s Arthur Friedheim Music Library Matthew Kopel Open Access and Intellectual Property Librarian, Princeton University Library Katie Zimmerman Director of Copyright StrategyDirector of Copyright Strategy, MIT Libraries Abstract Librarians focused on copyright and licensing from five institutions conducted research and analysis of peer institutional metadata policies, vendor agreements, and U.S. law in an effort to better understand the legal disposition of metadata created both locally by institutions and from partner institutions across the U.S. Based on our analysis, we assert that the vast majority of bibliographic metadata is simply not copyrightable. While there may be “thin” copyrightable material, institutions should release these records under a CC0 Public Domain Dedication to ensure the widest possible distribution to support research, aid in the dissemination of knowledge, and promote innovation. In this paper, we will review our findings, share our analysis, and make recommendations for libraries to openly share their metadata records. Full Article 72 J. Copyright Soc'y 621Download Related Content Journal May 1, 2026 THE UNEASY NEW (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) RELATIONSHIPS: TECH, PUBLISHERS, AND AUTHORS IN ACADEMIC PUBLISHING 73 J. Copyright Soc'y 299 (2026)Download Agnes Gambill West AI & Copyright Keeping Up With Copyright Preservation, Archives & Memory Journal September 28, 2025 UNDERSTANDING THE INTERNET ARCHIVE LITIGATION CASES 72 J. Copyright Soc'y 819Download Sara Benson Copyright Litigation in Focus Creativity & Technology Collide Preservation, Archives & Memory Journal September 28, 2025 PROTECTING LIBRARY EXCEPTIONS AGAINST CONTRACT OVERRIDE 72 J. Copyright Soc'y 659Download Jonathan Band PLLC AI & Copyright Copyright Conversations in Congress Creativity & Technology Collide Preservation, Archives & Memory