How to Locate Rightsholders and
Obtain Copyright Permissions
- Make
your permission request as soon as possible after you know you wish
to use an item. Publishers often take between three to six weeks to
process requests, and there can often be unexpected delays. The request
may have to redirected more than once before you find the current rightsholder.
- Gather
together information you will need to make the permission letter, such
as:
- the name
of the work and (where applicable) the volume number, edition, ISBN
number for books or ISSN for magazines/journals
- the name
of the author(s), editor(s), or translator(s) of the work
- the page
numbers, figure number, illustration number, chapter, or other reference
for the item you wish to use
- the date
of the copyright
- the name,
address, phone, fax (and e-mail, if available) of the company or person
most likely to be the rightsholder and the one to handle copyright permission
requests (usually the publishing house, record company, movie studio...).
If you are unsure of the publisher's contact information, try browsing
the extensive list of Books in
Print. This resource also links to some publisher homepages, which
have contact information.
- If a
general search of the Internet fails to turn up a website for the publishing
house you need, check with a reference librarian to find traditional
sources of contact information for publishing houses, such as Books
in Print.
- Links:
-
Whenever
possible, try to first talk to the permissions department on the phone
to be certain that you are directing your request to the correct place.
This avoids sending a letter out only to hear back after several weeks
that the publisher does not control of the copyright (for instance,
the copyright may have transferred back to the author or be handled
by a writer's society or the author's estate, etc.)
- Whether
or not you are able to initially discuss your permission request by
phone, fax, or e-mail, always send a request in written form.
Permissions letter examples are given in the "Obtaining Permissions"
sections.
- Be
sure to keep a copy of your request for your records. Also be aware
that it may take anywhere from two to six weeks to hear back from the
publisher regarding your request.
What to do if the copyright owner does not respond to
your request or you cannot locate the owner of the copyright.
If the publisher does not respond to your letter, or you simply have
not been able to find the publisher's contact information, you may want
to have the Copyright Clearance Center
try the publisher.