Access to the German National Library’s licensing service for out-of-commerce works (VW-LiS) has been restored on 1 July 2025. Tailored to the requirements associated with the (mass) digitisation of written cultural heritage, the licensing of out-of-commerce works facilitates the provision of legally watertight access to copyright-protected 20th century sources.

Cultural heritage institutions can now register again for a VW-LiS account at the German National Library and file applications for out-of-commerce books with the Collective Management Organisation VG WORT.

More about VW-LiS: https://www.dnb.de/EN/vwlis