HL Deb 25 January 1996 vol 568 cc91-2WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer given by Earl Howe on 15 January (H.L. Deb., col. WA 37), whether they will publish details about the concessionary arrangements made by the HMSO Copyright Unit for quasi-legislative material; and the commercial terms charged for reproduction in non-printed, commercial products, including the circumstances in which fees may be waived or reduced.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)

HMSO's Copyright Unit has already published, in February 1995, its Notice (QLM/2) detailing standard terms for the printed reproduction of quasi-legislative Crown material. This notice was distributed, with the aid of the Publishers Association, to all major UK publishers and is freely available on request. A copy has been placed in the Library together with a copy of a more general letter to publishers of 10 March 1995 covering the circumstances in which material can he reproduced without prior permission or charge.

The standard non-exclusive licence allows holders to add material covered by the licence to their products without prior permission in circumstances where, for example, volume or urgency preclude advance application. This provision is extensively used by legal publishers. The royalty rate applicable is lower than that levied for other Crown material.

Reproduction in non-print form, which is also licensed on a non-exclusive basis, covers a variety of media and applications. Fees or royalties are negotiated in the light of the circumstances, informed by the Copyright Unit's experience and the results of market research into the arrangements prevailing elsewhere.

Details of the circumstances in which fees or royalties for both print and non-print formats may he waived or reduced are set out in the Cabinet Office's DEO letter (DEO(PM) (95)4) of 12 June 1995, a copy of which has also been placed in the Library.

Fees or royalties may be waived or reduced for use for professional, technical or scientific purposes, where profit is not a main purpose of reproduction. Consideration of reduction or remission of fees or royalties is also given to non-profit making bodies, for educational purposes and in other cases where the need for the fullest dissemination of official information outweighs other considerations.

Both of the documents mentioned above, together with copies of general letters to Publishers and Librarians covering the circumstances in which material can be reproduced without prior permission or charge, area available on the Internet (www.hmso.gov.uk/access Copyright Unit).