Copyright - Independent schools

Crown copyright applies to all Ordnance Survey maps or based mapping from the publication date to the end of that calendar year and then for a further 50 years.

Ordnance Survey maps older than this may be copied without restriction.

Copyright rules for reproducing other Ordnance Survey mapping depend on your type of school. You will need to purchase an educational licence. This licence runs in line with the academic year and is automatically renewed each year. The licence fee is payable each year and you will receive an invoice in October.

The licence fees for education year 2005–2006 are as follows:

• Schools for students up to 16 years old – no charge (including independent schools with a sixth form)
• Schools for students aged 16–18 (sixth-form colleges): £88.00 + VAT
• Schools for students over 18 years old (further education colleges): £145.00 + VAT
• Universities: £300 + VAT

View/download a PDF version of the copyright licence (55 Kb)

With an educational licence you can:
1. Copy mapping for educational, research or teaching purposes.
2. Use digital mapping and produce paper copies for educational, research or teaching purposes.
3. Copy mapping as a location map in a prospectus or brochure.
4. Show up to ten, 200cm sq bitmap images on your school or college web site.

An educational licence will not allow you to:
1. Use mapping for any purpose other than educational, teaching or research purposes, such as estates management or publications.
Different sorts of licence are available to cover this use of mapping.

In addition, individual students may obtain extracts of Ordnance Survey mapping from libraries.

1. Under the fair dealing rules they may copy a small quantity of any Ordnance Survey mapping less than 50 years old for their private study, research, criticism or review purposes.

2. Further details about copyright can be obtained from the Customer Service Centre on 08456 050505.