Publishers and copyright licensing

Copyright licensing has developed throughout the world as the main solution to problems caused by photocopying and electronic copying. This article traces the history of negotiations between rights owners and users of materials and the establishment of working relationships between authors and users within licensing agencies. it highlights the special importance of copyright management and protection systems to academic and professional publishers. The systems used in the UK, other countries of Europe and the USA are compared and contrasted. The article underlines the enduring value of print publications, while looking forward to the introduction of licences for electronic copying.