Hi there!

It is gratifying and interesting to see how many people use The IK Foundation's digital resources from iBooks, iFacts, project descriptions/reports, scientific essays to the diversity of pictures and maps to name a few examples and not least opportunities.

Copying texts, pictures and sounds has never been easier than now due to that digital resources offer great opportunities to access information. We think it is a democratic right, but with rights come obligations! Do the right thing and give credit to those who worked hard to ensure the information is available. This watercolour by John Pass in 1813 shows a Polygraph, an early duplicating machine, called Hawkins’s machine for writing, drawing &c. Engraving. Credit: Wellcome Library no. 40618i. 

Every day of the year, IK's digital resources are used in a large number of countries around the world – for research projects, education and for inspiration in academies, libraries, museums, organisations, private users and schools.

Of course, it pleases everyone involved in IK who is behind these resources and deep knowledge, from fieldwork, long and costly research projects to all technically engaged that enable everyone else to take part in the results globally, freely and democratically! Sometimes however, we see that our material is being used against the rules or not being properly given credit – it is disappointing and unnecessary – but first and foremost a violation of established international rules.

IK has invested in digital resources at an early stage and that they should, as far as possible, be democratically open to all and free. For this we first and foremost use a Creative Commons license protecting our material so that it is used within our policies. In addition, we are increasing our digital work in the coming years and are opening up completely new opportunities and experiences within our work with Promoting Natural & Cultural History. At the same time, we have in July 2020 renewed our user policies and strengthened the protection of both our users and IK's site.

You are welcome to explore more: