Q. What OSNI material is covered by copyright?
A. Crown Copyright subsists in all of our products and is protected by 'The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988'. Our material must not be copied without our prior written approval.

Q. How long are they protected for?
A. Crown Copyright subsists in our paper products, including aerial photographs, to the end of the first year in which they were published and then for a further 50 years. Our digital databases, however, are constantly updated and are protected by Copyright and Database Rights. Crown Copyright protects hard copy extracts.

Q. How may I legally reproduce OSNI products under copyright?
A. You should apply to our Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Branch for permission to reproduce our products. If permission is granted a publishing permit or licence agreement will be issued and the appropriate royalty fee charged. Each authorised reproduction must clearly show the appropriate 'acknowledgement to reproduce' and a permit/licence number

Q. What do I need a publishing permit for?
A. Permits cover publishing and website reproductions. 'Publishing' is anything distributed outside of your own office either free or for profit. A permit is exclusive and non-transferable, normally relating to only one publication and its print run. Further reprints need a new permit.

Q. What do I need a licence for?
A. Licences are issued for the supply and use of our digital data or copying of our paper maps or maps that are based on ours for your own internal business use. Copyright Licenses are issued for 12 months and are renewable on the 1st April each year.

Q. What are redrawn maps?
A. These are maps redrawn or compiled with reference to our maps but are not exact copies or similar to our maps.

Q. How do I know if Crown Copyright protects a map?
A. Maps that we publish will have a footnote and the words Crown Copyright and/or the © symbol normally printed beside the map. However, if these are not shown the map may still be ours or mapping based on ours. If you are in doubt about the copyright ownership, our IPR staff will be glad to assist.

Q. What mapping is out of copyright?
A. Paper maps that were first published over 50 years ago are no longer protected by copyright and can be freely copied, however, an appropriate 'acknowledgement to reproduce' must still be shown.

Q. Are all copies of OSNI products covered by copyright law?
A. Yes and our permission is still required to make copies and a single copy made without our permission is deemed a copyright infringement. Specific exceptions apply to copies made for private study/non commercial research.

Q. What are the penalties for copyright infringement?
A. By law they can be severe, for example, payment of profits, damages and legal fees.

Q. How do I know if the Company I work for has a licence or a permit?
A. If in doubt please contact us.

Q. What if I reproduce more than one map in a publication?
A. You will pay royalties on the total area of mapping contained within that publication. For example, if a publication contains 3 maps of 100 sq cms. In size the total area of mapping in that publication is 3x100=300 sq cms.

Q. As a printer/copyshop owner, if I reproduce OSNI in copyright maps for a customer who is liable under copyright law?
A. Quite simply you are both infringing Crown copyright if you reproduce our maps without prior permission from us.

Q. What do I do if I design websites for clients who want to use digital extracts of OSNI maps or based on OSNI maps?
A. You may create the mapping as a contractor to your client under a sub-licence but it is the client who must hold a current digital data licence and you should verify this.

Q. Do I need permission to publish OSNI Data on the Internet?
A. Yes, a customer must apply in writing if they wish to publish OSNI data on the Internet. The customer must not publish OSNI data on the Internet until they have been granted permission. The permission is valid for one year from the date of issue and if the customer wishes to continue to publish OSNI data they must pay the associated annual fees. Information relating to the terms and conditions for publishing OSNI data on the Internet can be obtained from IPR Branch. You should also refer to the Publishing section under Licensing on our website.

Q. I am at college/university; does OSNI allow copying of maps for the purposes of my studies?
A. OSNI complies with the 'Fair Dealing' arrangements contained with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This allows up to four A4 size copies of a map or part of a map.

Q. What are the issues involved in either copying or publishing OSNI data?
A. Customers are only permitted to make hardcopies from their licensed data for their internal business use. The quantity and paper size of hardcopies they intend to print must be recorded on the 'Digital Data Supply and Licence Form' and the 'Annual Renewal Form'. All hardcopies are subject to a royalty fee. The royalty fees for hardcopies are published on the website. A customer who licenses OSNI data does not need a specific copyright licence to print hardcopies however if they wished to photocopy these hardcopies then they would need a licence to copy OSNI maps. If the customer wishes to produce a publication containing downloaded hardcopies i.e. a report; they must seek a publishing permit from OSNI's IPR Branch. Further details relating to the issues of copyright can be found in OSNI Copyright and Publishing forms that are available in the Licensing section of this site.