10. Visit Collectives or Clearinghouses

The most useful sources for licensable works and for permission information are copyright collectives or clearinghouses. These are organizations that organize and license works by their members. Here are a few examples of sites that license or provide permissions for various types of works:

• Written materials:
  • the Copyright Clearinghouse (www.copyright.com)
  • Valeo Intellectual Property (www.valeoip.com)
• Musical performances:
  • BMI (www.bmi.com)
  • ASCAP (www.ascap.com)
• Song reproductions:
  • National Music Publishers' Association (www.nmpa.org)
• Photographs:
  • Corbis (www.corbis.com)
  • Time, Inc. (www.thepicturecollection.com)
• Famous artwork:
  • Art Resource (www.artres.com)
  • Visual Artists and Galleries Association (VAGA) (www.vaga.co.uk)
• Cartoons:
  • The Cartoonbank (www.cartoonbank.com).

Even if you don't license from these sources, you can often find valuable research information in the event you need to speak with a songwriter, artist, or photographer.