Locating the Copyright Owner or Party Authorised to Grant Permission

You should keep a record of all searches and attempts to locate the Copyright Owner, as well as all correspondence with the copyright owner and all documents related to seeking permission.

• Literary, Dramatic and Artistic Works
• Musical Works and Sound Recordings
• Films and T.V. Broadcasts
• Web Sites
• Government Publications
• Orphaned Workes
• Unpublished Material

Literary, Dramatic and Artistic Works

• Contact the publisher. Most publishers will have a website which will include information about requesting permission.
• If the publisher cannot give permission, they may be able to direct you to the copyright owner. The Copyright Agency Limited may be able to provide contact details for a copyright owner.
• If the author owns copyright in the work, they can give permission. Try searching Google to locate contact details for the author.
• For artistic works, contact VISCOPY - the collecting society for visual artists - they may be able to give permission or assist in locating the copyright owner.
• For artistic works held in galleries or museums, contact the museum or gallery as they may be able to give permission or assist in locating the copyright owner.
• For additional information about seeking permission for artistic works, see ACC InfoSheet G086 Artworks - Seeking Permission.
• If the copyright owner has passed away, look for an estate webpage

Musical Works and Sound Recordings

• In the first instance contact APRA/AMCOS as they are often able to give permission on the copyright owner's behalf. If they are not able to give permission they may be able to provide contact details for a copyright owner.
• PPCA licenses recorded music & music videos for public performance, communication or broadcast.
• Try searching Google for a webpage or contact details of a copyright owner.
• In order to copy a sound recording, you may need to obtain separate permissions as the following different copyrights subsist in it:
  • Audio Recording
    Copyright in the recording usually belongs to the relevant record company. ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) may be able to provide a licence on behalf of the copyright owner of the audio recording.
  • Musical Work (Written Composition)
    Copyright in the musical composition usually belongs to the composer or arranger or the music publisher. APRA/AMCOS  may be able to provide a licence on behalf of the copyright owner of the musical work.
  • Literary Work (Lyrics)
    Copyright in the lyrics usually belongs to the songwriter or the music publisher. APRA/AMCOS may be able to provide a licence on behalf of the copyright owner of the lyrics.

Films and T.V. Broadcasts

• Contact the film production company. If they are not able to give permission, they may be able to provide contact details for the copyright owner.
• ScreenRights may be able to provide contact details for a copyright owner or a film production company.
• Try searching Google for a webpage or contact details of a copyright owner or a film production company.

Web Sites

• Check the website for a contact person whom you can email.

Government Publications

• Requests for permission to use copyright material owned by the Commonwealth, see Commonwealth Copyright Administration
• Where copyright is owned by a State or Territory, requests for permission are handled differently depending on what the material i.e. judgements/legislation or a government report, as well as the process used by each State or Territory.
  • ACT
  • New South Wales - No permission is required to reproduce NSW legislation and/or judgements.
  • Northern Territory - No permission is required to reproduce NT legislation. For all other material email the Office of Information Commissioner
  • Queensland
  • South Australia - Allows non-commercial use only. For all other uses, permission is required from the relevant department, contact them via their website.
  • Tasmania - Allows non-commercial use only. For all other uses, permission is required from the relevant department, contact them via their website.
  • Victoria - Allows non-commercial use only. For all other uses, permission is required.
  • Western Australia

Unpublished Material

• Try searching Google for a webpage or contact details of a copyright owner.
• If the author created the material as part of their employment, the employer may be the copyright owner.

Orphaned Works

• When the copyright owner of a work cannot be identified or located, the material is called an orphaned work. Orphaned works are still subject to copyright and cannot be used without permission. Contact the Copyright Officer to discuss.

Further information on locating copyright owners is available from the Australian Copyright Council Information Sheet 51 - A Guide to Finding Copyright Owners.