Higher Education Committee:
How To Request Copyright Permission from Publishers

The law requires that permission be obtained before using copyrighted materials in college course anthologies. Publishers want to make their materials available to you quickly and inexpensively, but they need your cooperation. Whether you request permission yourself or through a college store or copy service, these suggestions will speed the process. Please:

1. Request permission as soon as you know you might need the material. The earlier you request, the better. In the event that your request cannot be granted, you will need time to substitute other materials. Publishers need time to research the extent to which permission may be granted, since they do not always control the rights.
   
2. Include all of the following information in your request:
   • author's, editor's, translator's full name(s)
   • title, edition and volume number of book or journal
   • copyright date
   • ISBN for books, ISSN for magazines and journals
   • numbers of the exact pages, figures and illustrations
   • if you are requesting a chapter or more, both exact chapter(s) and exact page numbers
   • whether material will be used alone or combined with other photocopied material
   • number of copies to be produced
   • name of college or university
   • course name and number
   • semester and year in which material will be used
   • instructor's full name
   • method of reproduction (photocopying, scanning, etc.)
3. Request permission whether or not works are in print.
4. Direct your request to the individual publisher's Permissions Department, or a copyright clearance service, not to the author. If publishers do not control the rights, they will inform you whom to contact. The directory "Literary Market Place", available in most libraries, annually updates publishers contact information.
5. Provide your complete address and the name of a contact person and telephone number in case there are any questions.

In many cases, your college store, or other copying service can assist you and/or provide appropriate forms. In addition, there are several copyright clearance services, such as the Copyright Clearance Center, which will request permission on your behalf for a fee. The publisher's response form will provide the information about payment and fees which are determined by the individual publisher. Check out the "Questions and Answers on Copyright for the Campus Community", for more information. Download a Standard Permission Request Form, fill it out and send it to the copyright holder of the materials you'd like to request permission to reprint.

© 1998 Association of American Publishers, Campus Copyright Education Program