Why we don’t recommend waiving your licensing fees

For many artists, being asked to charge nothing or waive their licensing fee, even on the odd occasion, may not seem like a big deal. Any request of this kind is a sign that someone values your work enough to want to use it. In many instances, the project seems meaningful, or the person wishing to use your work is someone you know. But while saying yes might feel easy in the moment, waiving licensing fees or charging nothing carries long-term implications for your rights, your income, and the wider artist community.

What is a waiver and what does waiving a licensing fee mean?

As the creator of a work, generally you will own the copyright, meaning you have certain rights around reproduction and distribution. Waiving a licensing fee means you agree not to charge the fee normally required for allowing someone to use your work. You may also agree not to collect ongoing payment or royalties for use.

Licensing agreements and contracts: what you need to know before waiving a licensing fee

Waiving licensing fees doesn’t just affect you, it affects the whole creative ecosystem

When artists agree to waive licensing fees, it sets a precedent that copyright isn’t something others must respect, but something they can opt out of. Over time, this normalises the idea that creative labour doesn’t need to be paid for, during a time where artist’s earnings are already falling across the country.

Licensing fees aren’t arbitrary: they represent payment for using a visual artist’s work and are widely respected in other creative sectors such as music, film and publishing, where musicians, directors and authors all get royalties for the use of their work. Licensing is also one of the core mechanisms that keep the artistic economy functioning. When waiving licensing fees becomes common, the entire financial ecosystem weakens - not just for you, but for all artists and visual creators who rely on royalties as a stable source of income.

The impact falls hardest on the artists who depend on royalties

For many creators, licensing income is not a bonus, but a lifeline. It supports working artists, estates, and beneficiaries who rely on royalties to maintain their practice or livelihood.

Every time a waiver of fees is granted, it undercuts the sustainability of licensing as a revenue stream. As more organisations, clients and companies expect creatives to work for free, the pressure increases on those least able to absorb the loss.

Collectively, these “small exceptions” add up, and they often disadvantage the very artists who need support the most.

Without an agreement, you risk losing control over how your art is used

A proper licensing agreement doesn’t just set a fee, it sets boundaries. It defines how, where, and for how long your work can be used. It also ensures that the reproduction or adaptation of your artwork stays aligned with your intentions, ethics, and public image.

Without a written agreement, it can lead to situations where:

• Your work could be reused without permission
• Your work could be associated with causes, brands, or campaigns you don’t support
• The original understanding of any verbal or informal agreements erode as staff change roles or leave organisations.

What begins as a friendly oral agreement or favour today, may be unrecognisable in five years' time. Without clear written terms, artists and estates are far more vulnerable.

A fair fee reinforces the value of your work

Charging a licensing fee is not about being difficult, it’s about recognising the value of your creative contribution. When you stand by your rights, you reinforce the worth of your artistic labour in the present day and safeguard your reputation for the future. Many emerging artists at the beginning of their career may see waiving their fees as a foot in the door. While exposure is beneficial, it can ultimately de-value your work further down the line.

When institutions pay fairly, they acknowledge that artists of all levels are professionals whose work carries real cultural and economic value. A fee encourages respect for your rights and sets expectations for future use.

Waivers can create conflicts internationally

Artists whose works are represented globally often have agreements with agents or collecting societies across different countries. Waiving fees in one context can contradict those agreements or weaken the authority of your representatives abroad.

What may feel like a small local favour can unexpectedly create friction in other territories or undermine your contractual relationships internationally.

Think long term, not just about the one project in front of you

It’s natural to want to support projects that feel meaningful; a community initiative, a cause you care about, a collaboration that seems to have goodwill at its heart. But many oral waiver requests come without full transparency about duration or future reuse.

Some agreements, such as those that include terms such as ‘in perpetuity’, once signed, may last a lifetime. Others can allow indefinite reuse, future formats, or unanticipated expansions.

Organisations like DACS provide robust licensing agreements designed to protect your rights and ensure clarity for everyone involved. They give you confidence that your artwork will be used respectfully and appropriately, and only within the boundaries you’ve agreed to.

The bottom line

Waiving a licensing fee might feel harmless, but its implications ripple far beyond a single request especially if the agreement is not in writing. It affects your income, your control over your work, and the health of the artistic community as a whole.

Before saying yes, ask yourself:

• Does this waiver undermine the value of my work?
• Does it align with my long-term interests?
• Am I comfortable with how my art might be used now and in the future?
• Would entering a formal licensing agreement provide the clarity and protection I need?

Checklist: Before signing any agreement relating to licensing or waiving your licensing fee

• Ask a Legal advisor to review any agreement for how it affects your copyright.
• Look out for certain terms used in contracts and agreements, listed in this article: If these words are in the contract, make sure you understand their effect and are happy to agree to them.
• If you’re a DACS Licensing member contact our team to get clear information on the sector-appropriate amount you could be paid
• If you’re a DACS ARR or Licensing member you can get free copyright advice to help you understand how copyright-related terms in contracts affect your rights. 

Read more

• Licensing agreements and contracts: what you need to know
• How to earn through licensing your work