Copyright licensing for publishing

If you would like to publish our mapping in paper or electronic form, for example in a book, or on DVD, CD and so on, which may either be for sale or free distribution then you will require a Publishing licence. Please note the licence covers the reproduction of the mapping only, we do not supply you with the required maps as you need to source the mapping you wish to use for yourself.

To apply for a licence you will need to complete the online Publishing Licence Application form.  Licence fees are calculated based on the total amount of mapping used and the number of the copies of the publication printed.  Upon acceptance of your application form an invoice for the fee due and your licence will be sent to you. You must have received a licence from Ordnance Survey before you print your publication.

For more information please view our leaflet Publishing licensing information (PDF 812 Kb); we recommend that you read this in conjunction with our Publishing licence (PDF 124 Kb).

Please note customers who want to reproduce redrawn mapping in a publication must submit a copy of the mapping to be used with their application.

Publishing licence

A Publishing licence is required for customers who wish to reproduce mapping in publications which are either for sale or distributed free of charge. Publications are defined as, but not limited to: books; newsletters; leaflets; brochures; catalogues; journals; cycle leaflets; etc.

Customers wishing to reproduce our mapping in publications have two options:

1.  If you intend reproducing mapping in publications on a regular basis you may wish to consider the Framework Partner Licence Publishing SUC.  This requires a minimum £5,000 annual royalty return to OS but includes certain benefits such as account management support, high volume discounts, quarterly payments and so on, but you will have to be satisfied that you can achieve this level of return or at least br prepared to pay it: or

2.  If you only intend producing occasional; one-off publications; or publications in small quantities, then the Publishing Licence will be more appropriate. A licence is granted for single publications only.  Reprints or new editions require a separate licence and royalty payment:

The royalties for mapping in publications are assessed on a unit fee calculated on the total amount of mapping in the publication which is then multiplied by the print run: - restrictions apply to the amount of facsimile mapping that can be reproduced (see licence for further details). 

If you wish to apply for this licence you must complete the Publishing licence application form which is sent out with the Publishing licensing information leaflet. Alternatively, you can download the form from our website, complete the details and return it to us.

Publishing for display and promotion purposes

Under the terms of our Paper Map Copying licence and Framework Direct licence (if using Ordnance Survey data), you are able to publish mapping for display and promotion purposes for no additional charge (other than the standard fee for those licences) provided the total map area at scale does need exceed A3. Also as long as you make no direct financial gain from its use and it is used solely to promote your commercial services, provided that the use of Ordnance Survey paper map copies is secondary to your normal commercial activities and is not a service or business activity in itself.

For example; you can show directional guidelines on how to locate your premises or a location relevant to your day-to-day business activities, or use mapping as a background to display information specific to your activities, etc. 

If you think that this is more appropriate to the copying you wish to carry out or if you would like to view the full terms and conditions regarding display and promotion, please see our Paper map copying licence terms and conditions. 

Commercial publishing of our material

If you intend using OS mapping in commercial publications on a regular basis our Commercial publishing licence may be more appropriate to your needs.  For more information on the licensing arrangements related to commercial publishing please see details of our Ordnance Survey Licensed partner programme .

Partnership Licensing
Ordnance Survey
Romsey Road
SOUTHAMPTON
United Kingdom
SO16 4GU

Phone: 023 8030 5030
Fax: 023 8079 2208

FAQ's for Publishing licence

I would like to print Ordnance Survey mapping in a book, what do I need to do?

You need to complete the publishing licence application form prior to printing taking place.  We will then process your application and issue a licence for each publication and an invoice for the amount due. The licence fee will depend on the amount of mapping used, but the minimum licence fee is £47.50 plus VAT.
Further details are in the Publishing licensing leaflet (PDF 812 Kb), to apply download the application form (PDF  84 Kb).

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What is the cost of a publishing licence?

The licence fee depends on the total amount of mapping reproduced and the number of copies printed; you can estimate the amount by using the tables below. If reproducing more than 1 extract of mapping you will need to add together all the mapping used to estimate the mapping charge. For example if 4 x A5 extracts are used the total area is A3, also if 3 x A4 extracts are used the total area will fall into the Up to A2 banding.

1. Reproduce an A4 extract of OS Landranger Mapping in a book with a print run of 5 000.
9p per copy x 5 000 = £450.00 plus VAT
2. Reproduce an A3 extract of redrawn mapping on a CD-ROM with a print run of 1 250.
5p per copy x 1 250 = £62.50 plus VAT
3. Reproduce an A5 extract of OS Explorer Mapping with a print run of 35 000.
5p per copy x 35 000 – 10% discount = £1575.00 plus VAT.

Please note the minimum licence fee is £47.50 plus VAT.

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What are the size restrictions for publishing your mapping?

Publishing size restrictions on facsimile mapping are in place to protect our map sales. We are consistent in the amount of information we allow to be published, but we also need to keep it simple. A large-scale map (for example, 1:2500 scale plan) does not show significant land area therefore the limit is A3. A small-scale map (for example, 1:50 000) would show a vast land area, we therefore limit the size of small-scale maps to A4.  

Where the Ordnance Survey mapping is less than 45% of the total content (which includes both text and pictorial content) of your publication and no individual map extract is larger than A3 in size, you may exceed the size restrictions stated above.

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If I use a map extract showing exactly the same geographical area, at the same scale, more than once in my publication, will I be charged twice for its use?

You will only be charged again if the original map scale is different.  

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Can I use Ordnance Survey aerial photography in my publication?

Aerial photographs can be reproduced and are charged in the same way as a map copy.

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What is the difference between facsimile and redrawn mapping?

Facsimile mapping is a copy of any Ordnance Survey mapping within a publication that is the same or similar in style and appearance to an original Ordnance Survey map.

Redrawn mapping is defined as maps that have been substantially or entirely redrawn and are not recognisable in style or appearance to an original Ordnance Survey product.  

Please note customers who want to reproduce redrawn mapping in a publication must submit a copy of the mapping with their application form.

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Are there any discounts available?

We give a 50% discount where the facsimile or redrawn mapping totals less than 10% of the total content (including both text and pictorial content) of the publication. Please note discounts are not given when the size restrictions are exceeded for facsimile mapping.

We apply a volume discount based on the number of copies printed:

• Between 10 000 and 49 999 - 10%
• Between 50 000 and 99 999 - 20%
• 100 000 and above - 30%

Please note registered charities are entitled to a 20% discount on our charges in addition to any other discount that may apply.

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We are a registered charity, are we entitled to any discount on our publication?

Registered charities will receive a 20% discount on each publication in addition to any other discounts that may apply.

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How long is the licence valid for?

The licence is only valid for a single publication.

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I would like to reprint a publication I have already received a licence for; can I use the same licence?

The licence is only valid for the original application; if you reprint this you need to apply for another licence.

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I am designing a publication on behalf of a client. Who applies for the licence?

The client will need to complete and sign the application form.

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Can I use local authority mapping in my publication?

If you would like to use local authority mapping, with information that they have added, you will need to obtain permission from the local authority before obtaining our permission.

Many local authority planning departments operate a map return scheme. This allows individuals and businesses to purchase mapping for submissions to a local authority, for example, planning applications.