Within this sort of digitization process that more and more museums are undertaking, however, there are associated risks - particularly with regards to the creation of unauthorized copies. Indeed, in this newly emerging digital world, traditional safeguards for managing such copies do not really apply; it is very difficult to obtain copyright protection over ancient artifacts, fossils in particular, and this poses a sincere challenge for museums attempting to preserve and share yet protect their assets. In this digital world without safeguards, once a file is released into the public domain, whether inadvertently or intentionally, it is virtually impossible to control its use. With that said, however, the pace of pressure for Museums to digitize their artifacts is increasing, and the desire to bring these files to the public will not wait for these sorts of legal and ownership issues to be resolved through traditional means.

New methods must therefore be found for sharing this information while at the same time ensuring security and protection for the files. As services and collections increasingly migrate online, so, too, do opportunities for malicious parties to target system vulnerabilities. In this regard, several GLAMS have found themselves to be the target of cybersecurity attacks and there are several documented cases where digital collections have been stolen or lost. In addition, Museums are further positioned with unique challenges regarding the balancing of calls for open access to collections' files as well as increased requests for the repatriation of cultural treasure - including their digitized formats and particularly that of 3D scans. In this, third parties and activists have proven that they will seek to attain this data by alternative means - either through the exploitation of legal gray area or by ignoring the laws altogether (see document titled Cybersecurity and Copyright in GLAMs; and Issue Note).

Keeping this in mind, over the years, Research Casting International (RCI) has proven itself as the trusted custodian of many original paleontological specimens on behalf of museums, as well as the secure keeper of the physical molds used to make authorized copies and reproductions of these artifacts under the strict licenses and controls agreed with museums and owners of these physical artifacts. Moving forward into the digital world, and in keeping with its skills, expertise, and experience, this new division, RCI Digital, has been created with the specific goal of maintaining RCI's role as the caretaker of museum data through the creation, storing, and protecting of digital artifacts securely. And though our initial emphasis is on specimens in the area of vertebrate paleontology, we intend to expand into all aspects of collections management having to do with GLAMs.  ​