What terms should a UK copyright licence include?

Licence terms should state the work covered, permitted uses, territory, duration, fees, exclusivity, sublicensing, attribution and termination rights.

Why is territory important in a copyright licence?

The territory defines where the licensee can use the copyright work, such as the UK only, worldwide, or specific countries.

What does duration mean in a copyright licence agreement?

The duration states how long the licence lasts, which may be for a fixed period, ongoing, or linked to a project or campaign.

What are permitted uses in a copyright licence?

Permitted use sets out exactly how the licensee may use the work, such as reproduction, distribution, online publication, adaptation or commercial use.

Can a copyright licence allow changes to the original work?

Yes, a copyright licence can allow adaptations, but the agreement should clearly state whether edits, translations, derivative works or modifications are permitted.

What is sublicensing in a copyright licence?

Sublicensing means the licensee can grant rights to another person or business, but this should only be allowed if the licence expressly permits it.

How are copyright licence fees usually structured?

Licence fees can be fixed, recurring, royalty-based, revenue-linked or free of charge, depending on the commercial arrangement.

What does attribution mean in a copyright licence?

Attribution is a requirement to credit the creator or copyright owner when the work is used, if this is agreed or required by law.

What are moral rights in UK copyright law?

Moral rights protect creators’ personal rights, such as the right to be identified as author and to object to derogatory treatment of the work.

Can a UK copyright licence cover online and digital use?

Yes, but online use should be clearly defined, including websites, social media, apps, downloads, streaming, email marketing and digital advertising.

When can a copyright licence agreement be terminated?

A termination clause explains when the licence can end, such as expiry, breach, non-payment, insolvency or notice by either party.

What happens if someone breaches a copyright licence?

If someone uses a copyright work without permission, the copyright owner may seek remedies such as damages, an injunction, delivery up or an account of profits.

Do I need a written copyright licence agreement in the UK?

A written agreement provides clear evidence of the rights granted, licence limits, payment terms and obligations of each party.

EN-GB>IP>Copyright Licence Agreement>UK Copyright Works And Licence Terms

Types Of Copyright Works And Licence Terms In The UK

Created: 8 Jun 2026

Understand common copyright works and licence terms in the UK so you can choose suitable permissions, define usage rights, and reduce legal uncertainty. For related templates and guidance, visit our AI Generated British Copyright Licence Agreement page.

Work Description	Common Licensed Rights	Attribution Approach	Moral Rights Relevance	Example Uses	Pre-Licence Checks
Photographs
Still images, portraits, product shots, event photos, editorial images and stock photography.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Adaptation Sub-licensing	Attribution required Credit wording specified	Usually relevant	Website banners, brochures, social posts, advertising campaigns, editorial articles and product listings.	Confirm photographer ownership, model and property releases, stock restrictions, exclusivity, editing rights and image metadata.
Artwork and illustrations
Drawings, paintings, digital art, icons, infographics, cartoons, maps and commissioned illustrations.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Adaptation Sub-licensing	Attribution required Credit wording specified	Usually relevant	Book covers, packaging, app icons, website graphics, merchandising, marketing materials and educational resources.	Check commission terms, source files, permitted alterations, AI or stock elements, trademark conflicts and merchandising rights.
Books and manuscripts
Novels, non-fiction books, textbooks, memoirs, reports, drafts, chapters and unpublished manuscripts.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Adaptation Translation Sub-licensing	Attribution required Credit wording specified	Usually relevant	Print publication, ebooks, audiobooks, serialisation, translation, educational extracts and film or stage adaptations.	Check author ownership, publisher rights, prior grants, quoted material, illustrations, permissions, translation rights and territorial limits.
Articles and written content
Blog posts, news articles, website copy, white papers, newsletters, product copy and marketing text.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Adaptation Translation Sub-licensing	Attribution required Attribution optional Credit wording specified	Usually relevant	Syndication, reposting, newsletters, SEO pages, course handouts, press packs and translated web content.	Confirm author or employer ownership, plagiarism checks, embedded images, quotes, SEO exclusivity and right to edit.
Music compositions
Melodies, lyrics, scores, arrangements, jingles and musical works separate from sound recordings.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Public performance Adaptation Sub-licensing	Credit wording specified Attribution required	Usually relevant	Advertising jingles, film scores, online videos, live performances, sheet music, games and podcasts.	Identify composers, lyricists, publishers, PRS or MCPS control, sync rights, arrangement rights and split shares.
Sound recordings
Recorded music, voiceovers, podcasts, samples, sound effects, interviews and audio masters.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Public performance Adaptation Sub-licensing	Credit wording specified Attribution optional	Sometimes relevant	Streaming, adverts, hold music, podcasts, sampling, social videos, audiobooks and in-store music.	Check master owner, performers, producers, PPL licensing, underlying composition rights, samples and platform terms.
Films and videos
Feature films, corporate videos, social clips, animations, webinars, adverts and recorded live events.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Public performance Adaptation Sub-licensing	Credit wording specified Attribution required	Usually relevant	Streaming, cinema screening, social media ads, training portals, broadcast, trade shows and website embeds.	Clear music, script, performers, locations, archive footage, trademarks, releases, platform rights and editing rights.
Software code
Source code, object code, scripts, APIs, libraries, plugins, firmware and user interface code.	Reproduction Distribution Adaptation Sub-licensing Storage and backup Other rights	Attribution optional No attribution required Credit wording specified	Rarely relevant	SaaS platforms, internal systems, mobile apps, embedded systems, integrations, white-label products and support copies.	Review ownership, open-source components, escrow, source access, permitted users, reverse engineering, security and maintenance scope.
Databases
Structured collections of data, directories, catalogues, datasets, subscriber lists and curated information products.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Sub-licensing Storage and backup Other rights	Attribution required Credit wording specified No attribution required	Rarely relevant	Market data feeds, CRM imports, research datasets, mapping data, directories, analytics and API access.	Check database right, copyright selection, extraction limits, update frequency, personal data, API terms and onward sharing.
Training materials
Slides, manuals, handouts, assessments, e-learning modules, trainer notes, templates and course videos.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Public performance Adaptation Sub-licensing Storage and backup	Attribution required Credit wording specified No attribution required	Sometimes relevant	Corporate workshops, LMS uploads, induction packs, webinars, franchise training and client-facing courses.	Check third-party extracts, images, videos, trainer IP, editable formats, number of learners and LMS access limits.
Architectural drawings
Plans, elevations, CAD drawings, BIM models, technical specifications and construction drawings.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Adaptation Sub-licensing Storage and backup	Attribution required Credit wording specified	Usually relevant	Planning applications, tender packs, construction, facilities management, refurbishments, visualisations and BIM coordination.	Confirm architect or employer ownership, appointment terms, project-only limits, consultants, CAD or BIM access and modification rights.
Design files
Graphic design files, layouts, logos, packaging artwork, UX designs, templates, 3D files and editable source files.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Adaptation Sub-licensing Storage and backup Other rights	Attribution optional No attribution required Credit wording specified	Sometimes relevant	Brand assets, packaging production, website templates, print collateral, product prototypes and editable marketing files.	Check designer terms, font licences, stock assets, logo rights, design rights, editable file delivery and brand guidelines.
Books and manuscripts
Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 section 16 sets out restricted acts including copying, issuing copies, public performance, communication and adaptation.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Public performance Adaptation	Not applicable	Sometimes relevant	Use this statutory list to map licence permissions to the acts that would otherwise require consent.	Check the licence expressly covers each restricted act needed for the intended UK exploitation.
Artwork and illustrations
Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 Chapter IV contains moral rights, including identification and objection to derogatory treatment.	Other rights	Credit wording specified Attribution required	Usually relevant	Use where a licence needs credit wording, consents to edits, or a waiver of moral rights where legally appropriate.	Check whether the author has asserted the right to be identified and whether proposed edits could be derogatory treatment.
Databases
The Copyright and Rights in Databases Regulations 1997 create a database right protecting substantial investment in obtaining, verifying or presenting database contents.	Reproduction Distribution Communication to the public Storage and backup Other rights	Not applicable	Rarely relevant	Use where extraction, re-utilisation, API calls, bulk downloads or repeated data scraping need permission.	Check whether the licence permits substantial extraction, repeated extraction, re-utilisation and onward supply of data.
Software code
Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 sections 50A to 50C address lawful user rights for software backup, observation, study, testing and limited decompilation.	Storage and backup Adaptation Other rights	Not applicable	Rarely relevant	Use where a software licence needs to address installation copies, backups, interoperability and limits on reverse engineering.	Check whether contractual restrictions are consistent with mandatory software user rights and operational backup needs.

What Should A UK Copyright Licence Agreement Cover?

A UK copyright licence should identify the exact work being licensed, the permitted rights, any attribution wording, the territory, duration, exclusivity, fees and whether sub-licensing is allowed. Different works need different wording: software often needs storage, backup and modification rights, while photographs, artwork, articles, films and music usually need reproduction, distribution and online communication rights.

When Are Moral Rights Important In A Copyright Licence?

Moral rights are often important for photographs, artwork, literary works, films, music and architectural drawings because UK law gives authors and some directors rights such as the right to be identified and the right to object to derogatory treatment. A licence should state whether attribution is required and, where appropriate, whether any moral rights are waived or consent is given to particular uses.

What Checks Should Be Made Before Licensing Copyright Works?

Confirm ownership: check whether employees, freelancers, agencies, publishers or collecting societies control any rights.
Check third-party material: photographs, videos, training materials, databases, software and design files often include embedded works, stock assets, open-source code, trademarks, music or personal data.
Match rights to use: online use commonly requires communication to the public, copying and distribution rights; editing, localisation or format changes usually require adaptation rights.
Deal with special risks: software licences should address open-source obligations; database licences should consider database right; music and film uses may need separate licences for compositions, recordings, performers and synchronisation.

Types of Copyright Works and Licence Terms

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FAQs

What types of works are protected by copyright in the UK?

In the UK, copyright can protect original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, as well as films, sound recordings, broadcasts, typographical arrangements and software.

Who owns copyright in a work in the UK?

What is a copyright licence agreement?

What is the difference between a copyright licence and an assignment?

What is the difference between an exclusive and non-exclusive copyright licence?

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