Licensing fees
About re-using material
Before you can re-use something from the collections, you'll need to check if it's in copyright and whether you need permission from a copyright holder. Whether you can re-use something might also depend on how you intend to use it. You can find out more about this in our copyright guide.
What we charge
In a few cases, we charge fees for the re-use of materials. See the copyright guide for information on how we calculate our fees.
We have separate fees for still images and for moving image content. Permission fees do not apply to re-use of most still images.
Any reprographic charges for still images are not included in the permission fee.
Third-party copyright holders' fees
External rights holders sometimes charge their own fees for re-using material. Our permission and reprographic fees are separate and in addition to anything you might be charged by an external rights holder.
Licences
In some cases, like for using films from our moving image archive, we'll ask you to complete a content licence to use the material.
Moving Image and Sound fees
Our fees for the re-use of moving image and sound are as follows. For audio-only usage, including material from the sound archives, these fees will be applied at a reduced rate of 50%.
An additional fee applies for an expedited service.
All rates are GBP (£) and are exclusive of VAT.
A minimum usage charge of 30 seconds applies to all categories.
Per-second rates
Multiple category buy-out options (all media)
Option 1
Full broadcast packages, streaming, video-on-demand, DVD/DTO, educational, non-theatrical, interactive media and online use.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | In perpetuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom or single country | £21.25 | £26.50 | £32 | £64 |
Europe | £32 | £37 | £42.50 | £85 |
World | £48 | £53 | £58.50 | £117 |
Option 2
Full broadcast packages, streaming, video-on-demand, DVD/DTO, educational, non-theatrical, interactive media and online use plus theatrical use.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | In perpetuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom or single country | £26.50 | £32 | £37 | £74 |
Europe | £37 | £42.50 | £53 | £106 |
World | £53 | £58.50 | £63.50 | £127 |
Broadcast packages
Option 1
Unlimited transmissions, simulcast to all available platforms (cable, satellite, via web, mobile), video-on-demand catch-up, multiplex rights (+1 time shift channels), series stacking, promotional clip or trailer use.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
Regional | £9 | £11.50 | £15.50 |
United Kingdom or single country | £13.25 | £17.25 | £22.50 |
Europe | £18 | £23.50 | £30.50 |
World | £21.25 | £27.50 | £36 |
Option 2
Up to 5 transmissions, simulcast to all available platforms (cable, satellite, via web, mobile), video-on-demand catch-up, multiplex rights (+1 time shift channels), series stacking, promotional clip or trailer use.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
Regional | £8 | £10 | £12 |
United Kingdom or single country | £10 | £12.75 | £16 |
Europe | £14.50 | £18 | £23 |
World | £17.50 | £22.25 | £28.50 |
Option 3
Unlimited transmissions on specified channel, simulcast to all available platforms (cable, satellite, via web, mobile), video-on-demand catch-up, series stacking, promotional clip or trailer use.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
Regional | £6.50 | £7.75 | £9.50 |
United Kingdom or single country | £7.50 | £9.25 | £11.50 |
Europe | £10.50 | £13.25 | £17 |
World | £12.25 | £15.50 | £19.50 |
Television news
Includes simultaneous streaming. Rates cover one day's news plus 24 hours catch up.
Territory | Flat rate (per maximum of one minute) |
|---|---|
Regional | £110 |
United Kingdom or single country | £130 |
Europe | £160 |
World | £215 |
Streaming
Includes digital platforms, streaming services, or video-on-demand platforms.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | In perpetuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom or single country | £13.25 | £17.25 | £22.50 | £45 |
World | £21.25 | £27.50 | £36 | £72 |
Online re-use
Includes websites and social media platforms.
The material is only licensed when it is repurposed into a new piece of work. No standalone clips are permitted.
Channel | 2 years | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | In perpetuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intranet | £2.25 | £2.75 | £3.75 | £4.75 | £9.50 |
Subscription or restricted access websites | £3.25 | £4.25 | £5.50 | £7 | £14 |
Worldwide access | £5.25 | £7 | £9 | £11.75 | 23.50 |
Interactive media
Includes apps, video games, software, virtual learning environments, virtual reality and augmented reality experiences.
Coverage | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
Restricted access or subscription | £2.65 | £3.45 | £15.50 |
Interactive media (charged) | £5.35 | £7 | £22.50 |
Interactive media (free) | £3.25 | £4.25 | £30.50 |
United Kingdom or single country | £8 | £10.35 | £36 |
Europe | £10.50 | £13.75 | £18 |
World | £16 | £20.75 | £26.75 |
Physical and digital sales
Includes DVD, Blu-ray, download-to-own, and digital ownership.
Please note the terms of restricted distribution:
1 per enquiry or project
Maximum 500 copies supplied. After 500 copies, the footage must be relicensed under the territory.
Territory | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years | In perpetuity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Restricted distribution | £21.25 | £26.50 | £32 | £64 |
Europe | £32 | £37 | £42.50 | £85 |
World | £48 | £53 | £58.50 | £117 |
Theatrical or feature
Territory or release | 2 years | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Film festival submission and screenings | £2.65 | £3.45 | £4.50 | £5.85 |
Limited release | £5.30 | £6.95 | £9 | |
United Kingdom or single country | £10.65 | £13.75 | £18 | |
Europe | £15.95 | £20.65 | £26.75 | |
World | £21.25 | £27.50 | £36 |
Non-theatrical
No individual admission charged. Includes closed or captured audiences, non-broadcast, and inflight.
Territory or distribution | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
Restricted distribution | £2.65 | £3.45 | £4.50 |
United Kingdom or single country | £3.75 | £4.75 | £6.50 |
Europe | £5.35 | £6.95 | £9 |
World | £6.35 | £8.25 | £10.50 |
Corporate presentations and promotion
Use | 5 years | 10 years | 15 years |
|---|---|---|---|
Internal company distribution | £3.25 | £4.25 | £5.30 |
Corporate presentations, including internal and external, non-commercial and non-broadcast | £5.35 | £7 | £9 |
Exhibition and screening rates
Exhibitions
All rates are per exhibition venue and apply to in-person exhibitions.
Running time of footage on display | 1 month licence | 6 month licence | 1 year licence | 5 year licence | 10 year licence | 15 year licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Up to 15 minutes | £38 | £53 | £85 | £128 | £191 | £281 |
Up to 30 minutes | £48 | £75 | £106 | £160 | £244 | £361 |
Up to 60 minutes | £59 | £90 | £133 | £197 | £297 | £445 |
60 minutes and over | £69 | £106 | £154 | £234 | £350 | £525 |
Screenings
All rates apply to in-person screenings.
Type of screening | Up to 15 minutes | Up to 30 minutes | Up to 60 minutes | 60 minutes and over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Community film show | £11 | £16 | £23 | £31 |
Fundraising or charity event | £9 | £13 | £18 | £22 |
Stage performance, theatre production or backdrop (including musical accompaniment) | £32 | £37 | £42 | £48 |
Commercial | £53 | £74 | £106 | £148 |
Non-commercial | £27 | £37 | £53 | £74 |
Still image fees
The following fees are for the commercial re-use of digital still images.
Number of images | Fee (excluding VAT) per image | Reduction compared to the baseline fee |
|---|---|---|
1 | £50 | 0 (baseline fee) |
2-10 | £25 | 50% |
11-20 | £15 | 70% |
21-260 | £100 for each further block of 20 images | 90% |
For any amount over 260 images, please contact us.
Maps
Ordnance Survey map sheets
The National Library of Scotland is licensed by the Ordnance Survey to supply copies of in-copyright Ordnance Survey maps. This requires payment of a royalty fee on behalf of the Ordnance Survey. Copying prices are in the copying services guide.
Royalty Fee per map sheet by size:
1:10,560 (and larger):
With VAT £18.00
No VAT £15.00
1:25,000 and 1:50,000:
Calculated per square kilometre
Historic Maps API
We offer an API for accessing georeferenced map layers of Great Britain and Ireland. The MapTiler website provides further information, including details of the different subscription plans available.
The API allows you to embed these maps in your own websites, use them as a layer inside desktop GIS software, or use them for mobile application development. The maps include historic Ordnance Survey maps from the 1880s to the 1960s.