IPO Publishes Orphan Works Guidance

The Intellectual Property Office has published guidance for applicants on the licensing of orphan works for commercial and non-commercial use.

The Copyright and Rights in Performances (Licensing of Orphan Works) Regulations 2014 enables the licensing of orphan works for commercial and non-commercial use.    

Orphan works are copyright works where one or more of the rights holders are unknown or cannot be located.  

The licensing scheme requires applicants to conduct a ‘diligent search’, and the IPO has published guides which provide an aid to this process in the fields of literary works; film and sound; and still visual art. 

They include details on the sources that applicants must consult and a non exhaustive list of additional sources which might be helpful.