Obtaining Copyright Permissions
- Overview
- Licenses
- Identifying Copyright Holders
- Textual Works
- Images
- Musical Works & Sound Recordings
- Films
- Dramatic Works
Copyright Questions
The University of Michigan Library Copyright Office provides help with copyright questions for University of Michigan faculty, staff and students.
Email copyright@umich.edu with questions or visit our website for more information.
Legal Advice
The information presented here is intended for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have specific legal questions pertaining to the University of Michigan, please contact the Office of the General Counsel.
If you require legal advice in your personal capacity, the lawyer referral services operated by the Washtenaw County Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan may be helpful to you.
When to Seek Permission
Remember that you do not need permission if you are using something that is not copyrightable or is in the public domain. You also don't need permission if you are using it in a way that does not implicate one of the rights of copyright holders or is permitted by a user’s right, such as fair use. For more information on these topics, please consult Copyright Basics.
Collective Management Organizations for Dramatic Works
The collective management organizations listed below license plays and musicals for amateur and professional performances in the United States.
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Broadway Play Publishing IncBroadway Play Publishing Inc licenses contemporary American plays for professional, nonprofessional, and competition performances.
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Dramatic PublishingDramatic Publishing licenses plays and musicals for professional and nonprofessional performances.
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Dramatists Play Service, Inc.Dramatists Play Service, Inc. licenses plays and musicals for professional, nonprofessional, and competition performances.
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Music Theatre InternationalMusic Theatre International licenses musicals for professional and nonprofessional performances.
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Pioneer Drama ServicePioneer Drama Service licenses plays and musicals to schools, community theaters, and children's theaters.
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Rodgers & Hammerstein OrganizationThe theatrical licensing branch of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization licenses musicals for professional and nonprofessional performances.
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Samuel French, Inc.Samuel French Inc. licenses plays and musicals for professional and nonprofessional performances.
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Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc.Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc. licenses musicals for professional and nonprofessional performances.
Identifying Copyright Holders for Dramatic Works
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Stage Musical Rights IndexThe Stage Musical Rights Index lists "more than 500 professionally produced musicals that are currently available for amateur performances in the United States," along with the firms that license them for public performance.
Types of Theatrical License
The details of a theatrical license may include whether the production is amateur or professional, the price of tickets, the size of the venue, the financing of the production, and the location of the production. Some firms offer special licenses for performances at festivals or competitions. Before contacting a licensing agency for your theatrical performance, you should think about these details.