Copyright owners can “assign” (generally, sell) or license their rights. Assigning rights means someone else becomes the copyright owner; licensing means another person can use the copyright material.
Assignments and licences can apply to all the rights in the material, or to just one or some of the rights. For example, a writer can assign or license just the right to reproduce his or her story in a book, but keep all other rights. In addition, a copyright owner may restrict an assignment or licence in various ways: to particular countries; or to a particular period of time; or to a set number of copies; or to a particular format (for example, hard-copy only, or in brochures but not in posters), for example.

A copyright owner may also set certain conditions, such as payment, as part of their agreement to assign or license rights.

While assignments and exclusive licences must be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the copyright owner to be fully effective, it is good business practice to put all agreements relating to copyright into writing.

More:

• Contracts: assigning & licensing rights information sheet
• Competitions information sheet
• Copyright collecting societies information sheet
  
• Creative Commons information sheet
• Fees & royalties for use of copyright material information sheet

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