Sample Permissions Request Letter
Overview
If there is a resource you would like to use in your OER project that is not openly licensed, in the public domain, or usable under fair use, permission from the copyright holder is required. Here is some sample wording for that permissions request. Please adapt as suits your situation.
Cover mage by Andrew Lloyd Gordon from Pixabay
Use letterhead or logo
Dear {Content Owner}:
We understand that you are the copyright holder of {insert resource name} available on {website name and link to resource}.
{Insert requesting organization/school district} would like to include the above-mentioned resource in educational materials under development by our organization. {Insert district/organization mission or purpose}.
The final materials we create will be openly licensed under a {insert Creative Commons license choice – CC BY recommended} and made available for distribution on {insert known distribution pathways}. Your resource would be marked as noted below (or with an attribution statement of your choice) and will not fall under the open license of the resource unless you would like it to do so.
Copyright {Content copyright holder}. Used with permission.
If you agree to provide us with permission, please sign this permission request letter and return a scanned version to us by email.
We appreciate your consideration of our request. Please contact me with any questions.
Sincerely,
{Insert requestor name and contact information}
By signing below, I warranty that I have the right to grant the permission requested herein, and that I hereby provide you with that permission.
Name (print): ____________________________________________________
Signature: _______________________________________________________
Date: ___________________________________________________________
Preferred attribution format: