Copyright Advice Service
Free expert advice on copyright issues for DACS Licensing and DACS ARR members. DACS Copyright Advice Service helps you understand your rights in copyright cases and protect your work. Copyright cases can be complex — but we can guide you through them.
We give artists, creators and beneficiaries clarity on their rights under copyright law.
What we can help with
Our expert team can help with things like:
- Copyright infringement: what to do if someone is using your work without your permission.
- UK copyright law: how copyright law protects you and your work — what's allowed and what's not allowed.
- Contracts and copyright: make sure that you're getting a fair deal and protecting your rights under any contract or commission.
What we cannot help with
There are some things the Copyright Advice Service cannot do:
- act as your legal representative
- draft contracts or agreements for you
- start legal proceedings for you
- offer advice on disputes or copyright infringements that happened before you became a member
Get help from the Copyright Advice Service
- This service is only for DACS ARR and DACS Licensing members.
- Send us your query and we’ll get back to you within 2 working days.
- If you have a long query (over 1000 words) please submit it as a Word document.
- Include any supporting documents that might help us with your query.
Not a DACS ARR or Licensing member?
Our Copyright Advice Service can only deal with copyright issues after joining as a member. Please see Other Advice Sources below as these other options offer helpful support if you are not a DACS ARR or Copyright Licensing member.
You can also take a look at our information section for guides to lots of copyright issues.
Other sources of advice
If you’re not a DACS ARR or DACS Licensing member, you can get advice from the links below. You can also take a look at our information section for guides to lots of copyright issues.
Artlaw
Legal information for your art practice. Artquest exists to help make the art world more equitable for artists.
Queen Mary Legal Advice Centre
Provides free legal advice to members of the public, as well as staff and students, at Queen Mary University of London.
The Brunel Legal Advice Centre
A pro bono service, improving access to justice relating to employment law, including intellectual property.
Free Legal Advice Centre (FLAC)
The University of Edinburgh Free Legal Advice Centre delivers pro bono legal services to members of the public living in and around the Edinburgh area who, for whatever reason, cannot access legal advice elsewhere.
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