Licensing

I wish to print some song lyrics/music/a new arrangement. Do I need copyright permission?

If the piece of music is still protected by copyright then you are legally obliged to approach the copyright owner in question for permission to reproduce the music.

How can I tell if a piece of music is still protected by copyright?

In the UK, a work is in copyright for a period of 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the composer or author dies. Works with multiple composers/authors remain in copyright for a period of 70 years from the end of the calendar year in which the last living contributors dies.

If a work is in copyright, permission to use the work in any context must be granted by the copyright holder.

Do I need to know the writer and composer of the piece of work?

The title of the piece along with the composer and/or lyricist is necessary in order for us to identify the correct work. If you are requesting permission to use a popular arrangement please also provide full details of the arrangement and the arranger’s name.

Does it matter if I don't know full publication details at the time of submission?

We require as much information as possible to determine the fee and process your request. At the very least we need the initial print run, retail price and territory of sale of the publication.

What territory will the licence cover?

We generally issue licenses for UK/Europe, however specific deals allow us to approve use for World excluding North America as well as Worldwide territory. Please check with us if you are unsure.

What length of term will the licence cover?

Our general term is two years, requiring a reprint application once the licence expires.

Can I use a certain length of printed music/lyrics without permission?

No. Any amount of copyright-protected music requires permission from the copyright owners/original publishers.

How long will it take to get copyright approval?

When we have received your request form we will confirm which of the titles we will be able to clear for you. During busy periods and due to the high volume of requests received daily it may take a minimum of 10 working days before receiving an update from us on the progress of your request although we aim to respond as soon as we can. We will then begin the copyright clearance procedure.

Please note that occasionally clearances can take many months to be processed. In this situation we will endeavour to chase the parties involved for information, but we cannot ensure a quick response.

If you have a particularly urgent request that requires immediate attention, please let us know, and we will do our best to assist you to meet your deadline.

Please also note that we cannot guarantee that all requests will be approved. If permission is denied, under no circumstances should you proceed with printing. This would be a breach of copyright and could result in legal action.

When copyright permission has been granted you will receive confirmation of the terms and conditions of your approval, along with details of any fees payable.

Will there be a fee for my request?

Yes. In most cases we have standard fees for the reproduction of copyrighted material.

Please be advised that we impose a minimum fee of £100.00 + VAT

What does it mean if a fee is quoted on a MFN or 'most favoured nation' basis?

If a fee is quoted on a ‘most favoured nations’ basis or MFN, this means that we are entitled to a higher fee should you have agreed to pay an original publisher of a work also in the folio (or co-publisher of a work) a higher fee.

I’ve been told that I can buy a copy of this song from you. Can you send me the sheet music?

If you are searching for a particular piece of sheet music we suggest you visit musicroom.com to see whether it has been published in one of our publications. You can also visit sheetmusicdirect which has a download facility.