UK reveals orphan works plan

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

UK reveals orphan works plan

The UK government has today published its response to a public consultation on plans for a licensing scheme for orphan copyright works

It said it received 57 responses to its consultation, which closed in February. The government now plans to allow the Intellectual Property Office to take on the role of an authorising body so that people can use orphan works ­­lawfully.

The authorising body will take the place of an absent copyright owner and consider applications to use orphan works. It will also decide what fees a user should pay, grant a licence to the user, and hold the fees it receives for a certain period of time.

The government says that users will only be granted a licence if they can show that they have carried out a diligent search for the copyright owner.

The final regulations and explanatory memorandum are expected to be laid before Parliament before September.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

News of an alliance between two Malaysian law firms and the launch of a self-help video aimed at supporting IP professionals through menopause were also among the top talking points
Speakers at the EUIPO’s IP Mediation Conference discussed how lawyers can act in tandem with clients during mediation, and the importance of showing a united front
A report that revealed top legal LinkedIn influencers are generating hundreds of thousands in advertising value is the push lawyers need to up their social media presence
Speakers at the EUIPO’s Mediation Conference say mediation can offer a ‘cathartic’ and effective alternative to litigation that IP owners should consider
Partner Scott Sudderth says he is looking forward to building strong client relationships and expanding the firm’s patent practice
Find out which firms secured the most nominations for Managing IP’s Asia-Pacific Awards 2025, ahead of the winners being revealed on November 6
Raluca Vasilescu joins our ‘Five minutes with’ series to discuss patent mining and watercolour painting
Jan Phillip Rektorschek, founding partner at Pentarc in Germany, explains why the firm broke away from Taylor Wessing and discusses its plans for staying competitive
Royal Mail Group wins copyright and database right infringement case, in a dispute that can be linked to the history of postcodes in the UK
Managing partner Mark O’Donnell explains why people are at the centre of the Australian outfit’s investment focus and how being independent benefits the firm
Gift this article