Joint ownership of works of art, as previously reported, is a creative way to stretch tight museum budgets and expand traditional museum audiences. By creating a digital version of a work, the uniqueness of which can be authenticated by an NFT, a new form of joint ownership is emerging, which promises to play a part in the controversial area of restitution.

“E-restitution” would allow the returning institution to continue to use the object as it always has, with rights of exhibition, research and reproduction, along with the obligation to safeguard the object. The country of origin would have legal title and the right to exploit the object online. Restitution is a complex and controversial area and whether the idea of separating digital from physical ownership of an object has anything to contribute remains to be seen.