Getting Permission for Copyright Materials
Permission to use copyright-protected materials, when required, should be obtained prior to using those materials. It is best to obtain permission in writing (including e-mail) and to ensure that the Santa Barbara City College Copyright Officer has a copy of each permission form or letter.
The time to obtain permission may vary and, where possible, it is recommended to start the permissions procedure at least six months prior to the time that you wish to use the materials. If you need a quicker permission, let the copyright owner know this and he/she may be able to getback to you more quickly. Often, Copyright Clearance Center is your quickest one-stop resource for obtaining copyright permission.
Once you have identified the materials you want to use and determined that copyright permission is required, you must locate the copyright holder. If the copyright holder is not listed on the work, locating the appropriate person or entity to grant permission may take some investigative and creative work.
The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress may be of assistance in locating a copyright owner if the work is registered. Note, however, that copyright is automatically granted to all works upon their being written down and that registration with the Copyright Office is not required.
There are two primary options for obtaining permission to use the work. You may contact the copyright holder directly or you may contact Copyright Clearance Center. Check with your department manager to determine if your institution already has an established process for obtaining copyright permission through Copyright Clearance Center. If your department or campus does not have a centralized location or process for obtaining copyright permission, you may create an account with Copyright Clearance Center.
The copyright holder or its agent will require the following information in order to provide you with permission:
- Title of the material
- Creator/author of the material
- Publisher of the material
- Description of material
- ISBN or ISSN, if applicable
- Date of publication, if applicable
- Purpose for which you wish to reproduce the item (research, educational, etc.)
- How the material is to be reproduced (e.g., photocopied, digitized)
- Where the reproduced material will be used or will appear and for how long
Sample Permission Letters
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