Professional Development – Permissions clearance

If you’re quoting from someone else’s work, such as using a line from a poem or quoting from your favourite novel, you may need permission to republish in your new book or publication.

Join Head of Rights and Licensing at Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS), Amy Ellis as she leads this session on covering a basic introduction to when you need to seek permission, when you don’t, and some top tips for how to clear permissions easily from publishers and other rights holders.

#SoAatHome Professional Development events – free for SoA Members

As of Feb 2025, #SoAatHome professional development sessions will continue to be free as a member benefit. However, for non-members, the price is £35 including VAT.

Not a member? Sign up here with our special #SoAatHome offer and get 20 per cent off for the first year of membership – use code SOAATHOME20.

Programme

• Welcome, introductions and housekeeping from Sarah Baxter – Senior Publishing Contracts Advisor, SoA (3 mins)
• Short introduction from Tom West, Publishers’ Licensing Services (5 mins)
• Presentation by Amy Ellis, Publishers’ Licensing Services (55 mins)
• Comfort break (5 mins)
• Q&A with audience (20 mins)
• Summary and closing comments (2 mins)
• This event will be moderated by Sarah Baxter, SoA

Who is this session for?

This session is for authors who may be quoting from other published works. These could be academic authors who quote from other publications frequently or fiction authors using quotes as an epigraph or occasionally in their works.

What will this session cover?

This session will cover:

• When do I need to ask for permission to quote or reuse content?
• When do I not need permission?
• What happens if I reuse content without permission?
• How do I get permission to reuse content?

Send us your questions

If you would like to send questions in advance, email SBaxter@societyofauthors.org with ‘Permissions clearance’ in the subject header. We will prioritise questions sent in advance and answer as many as we can from the audience on the day.

#SoAatHome Fundraising Bookshop

Browse our virtual Bookshop.org store featuring books by authors and speakers taking part in the #SoAatHome. When you make a purchase using our affiliate links, a percentage will go to the Society of Authors’ Access Fund, giving authors support for travel, subsistence, childcare or access needs for events, residencies, and retreats.

The Line-up

Amy Ellis

Amy Ellis is Head of Rights and Licensing at Publishers’ Licensing Services (PLS) and has been working in permissions for nearly 10 years. At PLS, she is responsible for the delivery and ongoing development of PLS’ services including PLS Collect, the PLSclear permissions service, and other rights management initiatives.

Tom West

Tom West brings over two decades of expertise in collective rights management to his role as Chief Executive, championing publisher interests and advancing copyright protection across the industry. Drawing on his extensive experience as PLS’ former Chief Operating Officer, he continues to drive the organisation’s strategic vision while developing its services to meet the evolving needs of publishers.

Under his leadership, PLS has fostered strong partnerships with licensing organisations and other industry bodies – including those representing authors and visual artists – playing a pivotal role in distributing over £600 million in licensing revenues. His understanding of the rights and licensing landscape enables him to guide PLS’ 4,500+ registered publishers through an increasingly complex digital environment, ensuring they maximise the value of their content.

Need to know

Accessibility

• Attendees will have the option to turn on the live transcript, to watch with subtitles
• If you require BSL interpretation for this event, please email events@societyofauthors.org

Before the event

• Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with the Zoom link
• If the confirmation email doesn’t arrive in your inbox, please check your junk/spam email folder
• Please add events@societyofauthors.org to your Safe Senders list so you receive our confirmation and reminder emails

During the event

• This online event will take place on Zoom Webinar; you will not be visible on screen but will be able ask questions via the Q&A function or interact via the chat box
• This event will be recorded but you won’t be on screen
• Attendees have the option to turn on the live transcript
• This event is 90 minutes

After the event

• Hashtag for this event: #SoAatHome
• SoA Members and paid attendees of this event will be able to catch the recording on our Vimeo channel (password protected) or members can access via the SoA website.

Booking

SoA Members: Please use the ‘Register – SoA Members’ form below and provide your details, including your membership number. If you’re unsure of your SoA ID, please email info@societyofauthors.org.

Non-members: Choose one of the two ticket options below, complete the registration form, then fill out the billing info to finalise your payment.

For event or registration questions, email events@societyofauthors.org.

SoA Members – Free

Non-Members – £35