27 August 2026

Copyright exceptions are too useful to be underused

By Naomi Korn, CEO

This short article explains the useful of the exceptions to copyright and how confidence can be built by attending practical training.

On a day-to-day basis, copyright can be viewed as just a set of restrictions – ask permission, secure a licence, avoid infringement. But UK copyright law also contains carefully designed exceptions that enable people and organisations to use copyright-protected material lawfully in defined circumstances. For libraries, archives, museums and universities understanding these exceptions can unlock access, support learning, reduce avoidable risk and make rights management more proportionate.

The UK Government’s guidance on exceptions to copyright confirms that specific exceptions allow limited use of copyright works without permission in particular situations, including non-commercial research and private study, teaching, criticism, review, reporting current events, quotation, parody and access for disabled people. However, the guidance also makes clear that exceptions require careful application and, in many cases, an assessment of fairness. Examples can include:

• A museum may rely on the preservation exception to make a digital preservation

            copy of a deteriorating photograph in its collection.

• A library may make a replacement copy of a damaged book when a replacement
• An archive may provide on-site access to digitised copyrighted materials through

            dedicated terminals under specific library and archive exceptions

Understanding copyright law and how it practicably applies therefore really matters. In practice, many organisations either over-rely on permissions and licences where an exception may apply or avoid using material altogether because they are unsure how the law works. The result can be missed opportunities: collections left unseen, teaching resources underdeveloped, research slowed down, social media activity constrained, and staff uncertain about what they can say “yes” to with confidence.

The Copyright Essentials course from Naomi Korn Associates is designed to build that confidence from the ground up. This CPD-accredited full-day course introduces the practical foundations of copyright: what copyright protects, how long it lasts, who owns rights, how licences work, and how to manage common issues such as Creative Commons, social media, orphan works and infringement. Crucially, it also introduces copyright exceptions and explains why they are part of the everyday copyright toolkit, not a specialist afterthought.

For those who already understand the basics and want to go further, our Exceptions to Copyright course focuses directly on when and how copyright-protected works can be used without permission. This CPD-accredited half-day intermediate course explores the exceptions under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended, including the principles behind them, how they operate internationally, the difference between exceptions and licences, the meaning of fair dealing, and how to assess risk when relying on an exception.

Together, these two courses can help organisations move beyond uncertainty and develop a balanced, legally informed approach: seeking permission where it is needed, using licences where they add value, and applying exceptions where the law permits. This is especially important in cultural heritage, education, research and public engagement environments, where access to knowledge and responsible reuse of content are central to organisational purpose.

Copyright exceptions are not shortcuts or loopholes. They are an essential part of the copyright framework. Used well, they support lawful access, innovation, inclusion and public benefit. Used poorly, they can create risk. Naomi Korn Associates’ Copyright Essentials and Exceptions to Copyright training courses give delegates the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to get this balance right.

Find out more: Start with the Copyright Essentials course, running 7 & 8 October (9:30am-1pm), if you want a practical grounding in copyright, or book the Exceptions to Copyright course if you want to focus on applying exceptions confidently in your organisation.

References:

UK Government guidance on copyright exceptions: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright#fair-dealing; https://www.gov.uk/guidance/exceptions-to-copyright#teaching

CopyrightUser guidance for museums, galleries, archives and libraries: https://www.copyrightuser.org/understand/exceptions/