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Copyright infringement letter

If you own the UK copyright in something (e.g. a photo) and someone has infringed it, this letter can help stop any further infringement. It will also demand information to help you work out:

  • the full extent of the infringement, and
  • how much (if any) compensation you might want to seek.

You can use it if someone has copied all or a substantial part of your work without permission, or if someone is doing something with a copy made by someone else (e.g. selling, hiring, offering, distributing or exhibiting it).

For the purposes of this letter, the work must fall into either of these categories:

  • Artistic works: e.g. photographs, paintings, drawings, collages, sculptures, structures, graphic designs, logos
  • Literary works: i.e. anything (with some exceptions) that is written, spoken or sung. E.g. novels, short stories, poems, song lyrics, but also things like articles, design specs, reports, plans, computer programs, tables/compilations or (in some cases) databases.

You can't use this letter in relation to:

  • Dramatic works (e.g. a play script or screenplay)
  • Musical works (e.g. a musical score)
  • Sound recordings, films or broadcasts
  • Typographical arrangements of published editions.

You also can't use it if you have a licence (i.e. permission) to exploit the copyright in a work, but aren't the owner.

Copyright infringement letter

Compatible region(s): Scotland Northern Ireland England Wales

If you own the UK copyright in something (e.g. a photo) and someone has infringed it, this letter can help stop any further infringement. It will also demand information to help you work out:

  • the full extent of the infringement, and
  • how much (if any) compensation you might want to seek.

You can use it if someone has copied all or a substantial part of your work without permission, or if someone is doing something with a copy made by someone else (e.g. selling, hiring, offering, distributing or exhibiting it).

For the purposes of this letter, the work must fall into either of these categories:

  • Artistic works: e.g. photographs, paintings, drawings, collages, sculptures, structures, graphic designs, logos
  • Literary works: i.e. anything (with some exceptions) that is written, spoken or sung. E.g. novels, short stories, poems, song lyrics, but also things like articles, design specs, reports, plans, computer programs, tables/compilations or (in some cases) databases.

You can't use this letter in relation to:

  • Dramatic works (e.g. a play script or screenplay)
  • Musical works (e.g. a musical score)
  • Sound recordings, films or broadcasts
  • Typographical arrangements of published editions.

You also can't use it if you have a licence (i.e. permission) to exploit the copyright in a work, but aren't the owner.

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Copyright infringement letter (Guidance Notes)

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