Join a licensing organisation

As a copyright holder, you can control how other people use and share your work.

Collective licensing organisations can issue licences and collect royalties on your behalf. These licences, issued to businesses and other organisations, set out how licensees can use your work and the work of other members.

You could also submit your work to a number of organisations, such as picture libraries (in the case of images), who offer the option of direct licensing on behalf of creators.

Join a collective licensing organisation

You can find out more about the benefits of collective licensing by contacting one of the collective licensing organisations below. You may be charged a fee to become a member.

Music

PPL issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of record companies and performers.

PRS for Music issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of composers, lyricists and music publishers.

Text

The Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS) issues licences and collects royalties for writing of all kinds.

Images

Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) issues licences and collects royalties for visual art works.

Join a direct licensing organisation

Images

You can submit your work to a picture library which will negotiate direct licences on your behalf, actively market your work and seek out infringements. BAPLA has a list of picture libraries on its website.