diff --git a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
index 714278ba6c..f065c081f4 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/maya/api/plugin.py
@@ -18,70 +18,9 @@ from openpype.settings import get_project_settings
 from .pipeline import containerise
 from . import lib
 
-
-def get_reference_node(members, log=None):
-    """Get the reference node from the container members
-    Args:
-        members: list of node names
-
-    Returns:
-        str: Reference node name.
-
-    """
-
-    # Collect the references without .placeHolderList[] attributes as
-    # unique entries (objects only) and skipping the sharedReferenceNode.
-    references = set()
-    for ref in cmds.ls(members, exactType="reference", objectsOnly=True):
-
-        # Ignore any `:sharedReferenceNode`
-        if ref.rsplit(":", 1)[-1].startswith("sharedReferenceNode"):
-            continue
-
-        # Ignore _UNKNOWN_REF_NODE_ (PLN-160)
-        if ref.rsplit(":", 1)[-1].startswith("_UNKNOWN_REF_NODE_"):
-            continue
-
-        references.add(ref)
-
-    assert references, "No reference node found in container"
-
-    # Get highest reference node (least parents)
-    highest = min(references,
-                  key=lambda x: len(get_reference_node_parents(x)))
-
-    # Warn the user when we're taking the highest reference node
-    if len(references) > 1:
-        if not log:
-            log = Logger.get_logger(__name__)
-
-        log.warning("More than one reference node found in "
-                    "container, using highest reference node: "
-                    "%s (in: %s)", highest, list(references))
-
-    return highest
-
-
-def get_reference_node_parents(ref):
-    """Return all parent reference nodes of reference node
-
-    Args:
-        ref (str): reference node.
-
-    Returns:
-        list: The upstream parent reference nodes.
-
-    """
-    parent = cmds.referenceQuery(ref,
-                                 referenceNode=True,
-                                 parent=True)
-    parents = []
-    while parent:
-        parents.append(parent)
-        parent = cmds.referenceQuery(parent,
-                                     referenceNode=True,
-                                     parent=True)
-    return parents
+# Backwards compatibility: these functions has been moved to lib.
+get_reference_node = lib.get_reference_node
+get_reference_node_parents = lib.get_reference_node_parents
 
 
 def get_custom_namespace(custom_namespace):