What copyright material is covered by the CLA? What parts of a book, journal or magazine can I copy? We don't do much copying. Do I need a licence? To find out if you require a licence you can carry out our quick online assessment.
Books, journals and magazines/periodicals are covered. Certain digital titles are also covered. Some categories of published works, as well as some specific works by individual authors, artists and publishers, are not covered by CLA's licences. Details of these works are published on the Excluded Categories and Works List. All CLA licences cover photocopying and scanning rights and many include digital rights. For more information, please refer to your licence Terms and Conditions.
All parts are covered, including the cover, index and artistic works, where they are included in the article or extract.
If your organisation copies from books, journals, magazines or digital publications or receives and distributes press cuttings or purchased documents without express clearance from the copyright owners then you could be breaking the law. A CLA licence offers the easiest solution to this by providing 'blanket' clearance so that your organisation is protected against the risk and potential cost of infringing copyright.
Who is allowed access to copies made under my Licence?
Your Licence enables Authorised Persons to benefit from the range of rights granted. Depending on your Licence type, the definition of Authorised Person will vary. In addition to the below, please check your Licence Terms and Support Material for more in depth definitions.
- Business and Public Administration Licence Holders - For Paper Copies, an Authorised Person includes employees of the Licensee, workers and consultants engaged by the Licensee. For Digital Copies, an Authorised Person includes the same individuals as with Paper Copies and also individuals who are permitted by the Licensee to have access to the Licensee's Intranet.
- Higher Education Licence Holders - Your licence enables access to all students and all employees including all individuals who, although not employed by the Licensee, are engaged to provide consultancy services. More information about the Higher Education Licences can be found here.
- Further Education Licence Holders - For Paper Copies, an Authorised Person includes employees of the Licensee, workers and consultants engaged by the Licensee. For Digital Copies, an Authorised Person includes the same individuals as with Paper Copies and also individuals who are permitted by the Licensee to have access to the Licensee's Intranet.
- Schools Licence Holders - Your licence enables access to all pupils and their parents, teachers (whether temporary or permanent), staff and governors of the Licensee.
Can we change the kind of licence we hold or take out an additional licence?
Only in a few specific cases would an organisation be able to change the kind of licence that it holds with CLA. It is unlikely that you would need to change your licence as the range of rights granted has been developed with your organisation's area of activity in mind.
There are scenarios where it may be necessary for you to hold more than one licence. For example, where an organisation makes and delivers copies to third parties including clients, members or the general public, then an additional Document Delivery Licence can be taken. See details of our Document Delivery Licences.
If you still feel that the type of licence you hold should be changed or that an additional licence is needed, then please contact us.
My Licence details need to be changed, how do I do this?
It is important to ensure that your licence with us has the correct information attached to it. Whether it's your company name and address, Licence Co-ordinator details or the figures you provide for your annual licence fee calculation; you should keep us informed of any changes so that we can keep your account up to date.
Customer Services will contact you each year in advance of your annual invoice being generated to confirm that your licence details are correct, but you don't have to wait for our prompt if you want to update us.
All changes should be made in writing and can be sent via email. See full contact details.
Why does CLA carry out surveys of licensed organisations and what information do you require?
We undertake surveys purely to provide information to help us to fairly reward the authors, publishers and visual creators whose work is being copied by licensed organisations. To download a guide to what information should be included in a CLA survey please click here.
See more detailed FAQs about CLA Surveys.
How is my licence fee calculated?
Licence Fees calculation varies across the range of licences provided by CLA. For detail on how your Licence Fee is calculated, please refer to either the Terms and Conditions or the Licence Rate Card of your licence.
You can locate your Licence support material here
How can I pay for my licence?
Payment of licence fees can be made by BACS, CHAPS or by cheque.
To make a payment by BACS or CHAPS, please contact accounts@cla.co.uk for our bank details.
Cheques should be made payable to The Copyright Licensing Agency and can be sent to the following address:
The Copyright Licensing Agency
Saffron House
6-10 Kirby Street
London
EC1N 8TS
