Learning on ScreenEducational Recording Agency celebrates 20th anniversary
Published: 14 October 2009The Educational Recording Agency (ERA) celebrates the 20th anniversary of its existence this month.
While licensed use of formerly broadcast content is now a commonplace throughout UK education, it is important to recognise how important and progressive the ERA (www.era.org.uk) licensing scheme has been in removing barriers to access. Nowhere else in Europe are there such blanket arrangements which, under licence and exemption, would allow the acquisition and long term use of television and radio content in learning and research. Quietly the ERA has managed to balance all interests to deliver opportunities for maximum educational benefit in the UK.
The ERA has also led the field in exploring new licensing arrangements, through the development of ERA+, which would allow controlled access to content at a distance, such as the BUFVC’s BoB National streaming service. Often in the UK we do not recognise the good things we have achieved that are sometimes the envy of the rest of the world. Congratulations to the ERA and its constituent members – we look forward to the next 20 years of progressive licensing balancing the interests of providers and users.
