Copyright Law: Permission

Step One:  Research Copyright Status

Not all works require permission as described in the Fair Use and Public Domain sections.  For other works, check its packaging to see if it displays a copyright notice.  It is not necessary for all works and some may have been sold or transferred.   Searches can be conducted for copyright and transferred copyrights in the Copyright Office as described in the factsheets in the box to the right.

Step Two: Contact Copyright Owner

Once you contact the copyright owner, he or she will need the following information:

• authors full name
• title
• exact material to be used
• copyright date
• use to be made of the material
• audience to whom it will be distributed
• whether or not the material will be sold
• name and nature of your organization
• your name and contact details

If a publisher published the work, contact the publisher.

Allow plenty of time to contact the owner as the process may take longer than expected if the copyright has been transferred.

For more information, see the Copyright Office's factsheet listed in the box to the right.

The following factsheets give more information on the steps listed above to research and contact a copyright owner: