Copyright: Requesting Permissions

Reusing copyrighted material sometimes requires seeking permission to do so. If the work does not carry an appropriate Creative Commons license, there may be reasons why you might need to seek permission to use the work. For example:

• You want to distribute the copyrighted work widely
• You want to use an image in an article you intend to publish
• You want to transform the work into a new work

Most published research available in scholarly journals or from academic publishers use the Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) to handle requests for permission. While they generally charge fees, this service is quick and easy.

Many journal articles will link directly to CCC's RightsLink from their site, but if not, you can go directly to the Copyright Clearance Center Marketplace site to get permission.

If you cannot use a rights-granting service to get permission, you may have to reach out to the copyright owner directly. Include as much information in your request as you can such as:

• the exact material you want to use (i.e. the whole article, or just an image in the article)
• the purpose of your use (i.e. copying, transforming, or distributing)
• the nature of your use (i.e. educational or commercial)
• the length of time you expect to use the work (i.e. if you will be consistently distributing it)

When the copyright owner responds, be sure to get the permission in writing and save it in perpetuity.

Also, if you reach out for permission, do not proceed with using the material even if you don't hear back from them in a timely manner. If they respond after you've used the material and you are not able to comply with their requirements (for instance, if they will only grant you permission for a fee), you'll be bound to comply. Consider that you may not get a response and you may have to abandon your hope of using the material once you seek for permission.

If you are having difficulty identifying the owner of a copyrighted work, contact the Library for assistance.