How do I obtain legal permission to copy or quote from someones copyrighted work?
To obtain permission, you must determine who is the owner of the material you intend to use, contact the owner, obtain her permission (preferably written) to use her work in the territory and format you intend, and — in some cases — pay the owner a fee. The original publisher should be able to provide you with ownership information or even obtain and provide the appropriate permission. Also, the Copyright Office will conduct a copyright search for an hourly fee. If you run into difficulty, your publisher may be willing to help you track down the owner of the rights. Permission fees are negotiable and will vary depending on the amount and nature of the material you intend to use. Some publishers provide permissions kits, which include forms and instructions that you can use in seeking permissions. If your publisher does not provide such kits, use a version of the letter and form included in this site.
