Guides for locating copyright holders
Services and agencies that locate copyright holders
Sample permission letters
Further Reading

Guides for locating copyright holders

• Circular 22: How to Investigate the Copyright Status of a Work. U.S. Copyright Office.
• Copyright Permissions Guide. Scholarly Communication Center, NCSU Libraries, North Carolina State University (NCSU).
• How to Secure the Right to Use Copyrighted Works. Copyright Management Center, Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI).
• Locating U.S. Copyright Holders. WATCH File (Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders). The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin and the University of Reading.

Services and agencies that locate copyright holders

• Acqweb: Directory of Publishers and Vendors (international directory of publishers and vendors that has links to publisher Web sites, email addresses, and online copyright permission pages of publishers).
• Asking for Permission. Guide to Copyright. Vassar College (listing of sources for identifying and locating copyright holders, and collective rights organizations).
• Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) (grants permission for use of many text-based works).
• Getting Permission. Office of General Counsel, University of Texas System (listing of collective rights organizations).
• Licensing and Rights Agencies. Center for Intellectual Property, University of Maryland University College (UMUC) (includes web links to licensing and rights management agencies).
• Locating Copyright Owners. CopyLaw.com. Law Offices of Lloyd J. Jassin (listing of organizations and web sites that assist the researcher to identify and locate copyright holders).
• Securing Permission for Copyrighted Works: Expediting the Process with the Aid of Collective Rights Organizations. Copyright Management Center, Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) (listing of many collective rights organizations that can grant permission online).
• WATCH File (Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders). The Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin and the University of Reading (database that provides info about whom to contact for permission to publish copyprotected text and images).

Sample model permission letters from other universities:

These sample letters should be reviewed and modified to fit the specifics of your request. Your letter should provide complete and accurate information and include a self-addressed stamped envelope to expedite the permission process. For more information on what types of information to include in your permission letter, see UC Policy and Guidelines on the Reproduction of Copyrighted Materials for Teaching and Research, Appendix 2.

• Sample permission letters. Copyright Management Center, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI) (includes overview and lists of sample model letters for different types of uses and material).


• Sample forms and letters. Scholarly Communication Center. North Carolina State University (NCSU) (includes Permissions Guide and several sample forms).


• Sample letter requesting permission. Office of General Counsel, University of Texas System (general purpose model letter).

Further Reading on Copyright Permissions

• Crews, Kenneth D. When You Cannot Get Permission: Dealing With the "Dead End" of a Copyright Quest. Copyright Management Center, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis (IUPUI). 2002.
• Pritcher, Linn. Ad*Access: Seeking Copyright Permissions for a Digital Age D-Lib Magazine. D-Lib Magazine 6(2). Feb 2000 (article describes difficulties in tracking disposition of copyright assets owned by companies that no longer exist, and works for hire complications).