Most reputable sources of information will have some form of publication and/or copyright information statement. Look for the © symbol: on websites it is usually at the bottom of the webpage; in journals and books it is usually on the inside title page. If there is no author or creator listed, try looking for publishers' details.
A useful resource to try is WATCH (Writers, Artists, and Their Copyright Holders), a database of names and addresses of copyright holders or contact information for authors/artists with material housed in archives in
If you cannot find any copyright statement or reference to an author or copyright holder and do not want to spend time and effort tracking down the copyright holder, it may be wise to look for an alternative source of information.
If you require advice or assistance in identifying a copyrighter holder, please speak to the Senior Copyright Officer.
A work where the copyright holder is either unknown or untraceable is known as an 'orphan work'. This often happens when a copyright holder is unaware that they own the copyright to a work, or when a holder has died and it is not clear to whom who his/her work has passed. Sometimes it may be that a company or organisation has ceased to exist and it is not clear to whom ownership of the work has passed. Very often it is simply that the work in question bears no stamp or record of ownership.
Unfortunately it is not permitted to use an orphan work simply because a copyright holder is unknown or unreachable. The work is still subject to copyright law, and the risk that a copyright holder may surface and object to the use is too great.
If you want to use more than the permitted amount under the terms of the CLA licence, i.e. 10% or one chapter/journal article/conference paper etc, permission will need to be sought. If you require a digital version, the Content & Discovery Team can do this on your behalf.
If you wish to use photocopies for use in class, you would need to contact the publisher directly. The Senior Copyright Officer can advise on seeking this kind of permission.