Getting copyright clearance
This section provides general guidance on where to obtain permission to use copyright protected materials.
Below are some common activities and advice on where to get the clearance you need.
- to photocopy an article from a book or magazine.
buying a CLA licence provides blanket permission and avoids the need to contact the authors and publishers each time you want to make a copy.
- to copy or download an article from an original digital publication.
our business and public administration licences permit copying from certain digital publications. To see the publishers that include their digital titles see the list of Included Digital Works. If the publisher is not on this list then you would need to contact that publisher directly for permission.
- to photocopy or scan a magazine article or clipping received from a press agency.
can be copied under the CLA licence. To copy newspapers contact the Newspaper Licensing Agency (www.nla.co.uk).
- to use another person's slides or charts in a report or presentation.
contact the original publisher or the creator if unpublished.
- to use a copy of a map in a publication or on a website.
get permission from the map publisher. Standard licences are available from most major map publishing companies and from the Ordnance Survey (www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk).
- to copy an article obtained from a document library.
you can make the number of copies you need when you hold a CLA licence.
- to store an article on a company intranet.
limited storage for up to 30 days is allowed under the terms of our licences for business and public administration providing that the publisher is shown on the list of Included Digital Works. If the publisher does not appear on the list you would need to seek clearance from them directly.
- to reproduce a design or artwork in a publication or on a product.
ask for permission from the owner of the copyright or obtain permission from the Design and Artists Copyright Society (www.dacs.org.uk).
