Managing your copyright

If you wish to use copyright material, you usually need to get permission from its owner. You can do this directly with the owner, or through a certain type of intermediary organisation. These organisations are known under various terms, including:

• licensing bodies
• collecting societies
• collective management organisations

What is the role of collecting societies?

They offer licences for the use of copyright work and specialise in certain areas of copyright, including:

• printed material, such as in books and journals
• artistic works and characters
• broadcast material, including terrestrial or satellite broadcasts
• film, eg the showing of a film in public places, cable retransmission and certain uses of music videos

Collecting societies can:

• agree licences with users on behalf of owners
• collect any royalties the owners are owed
• offer a blanket licence for all the works by owners it represents in some cases - eg for music to be played in a shop or restaurant

For more information, see GOV.UK's guide on licensing bodies and collecting societies.