The first version of the PLUS (Picture Licensing Universal System) Registry is now online and undergoing beta testing. The site provides free PLUS membership and free registration of people and businesses.

Aimed mostly at nonprofit groups, the PLUS Registry will provide instant identification of image creators, image rights holders, images and related image rights information. In the coming months, users will be given unique PLUS IDs and will be able to search via image-recognition software.

In the first three months, more than 5,200 businesses from 60 countries have created PLUS Registry listings. In the future, museums and libraries are expected to use the database to allow the public to locate and access artworks.