Copyright licence for LPS/ OSNI branded IP (Copying 1 and 2) guidance notes
Read these guidance notes before completing an application for an annual copyright Licence to copy Land & Property Services (LPS)/ Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (OSNI) Branded Intellectual Property (IP) for Internal Business Use.
Prices correct as of 1 April 2026.
1. Introduction
1.1 If You copy in copyright Land & Property Services (LPS)/ Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland® (OSNI®) IP or material based upon in copyright LPS/ OSNI branded IP without LPS permission You are acting in breach of the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988 (as amended) (the “Act”) and infringing Crown Copyright.
2. Copyright in LPS material
2.1 Under the “Act”, Crown Copyright subsists from the publication date to the end of that calendar year and then for a further 50 years. The Chief Operating Officer, Land & Property Services, has a delegation of authority from the Keeper of Public Records, in whom is vested by Royal Letters Patent the Crown Copyright in all Government information and works, for licensing the copyright and database right in all IP produced by LPS.
3. Copyright Licence
3.1 You need a copyright licence to make copies of LPS/ OSNI branded IP for submission to the Planning Office, Land registration, Building Control, Court Proceedings or Property Vending.
3.1.1 For the avoidance of doubt, permission to copy for property vending does not include advertising of property for sale.
3.1.2 All submissions must be on your business’s behalf.
3.2 To reproduce LPS/ OSNI IP outside of your business for the purposes set out above, You will need either:
3.2.1 a Single Occasion Licence costing £60.30 +VAT. This is available by completing a Copying 2 application and will allow You/ Your business to reproduce LPS/ OSNI IP for application to one specified address; or
3.2.2 an annual copyright licence costing £248 +VAT. This licence is available by completing a Copying 1 application. This annual licence is beneficial where You/ Your business intend to make more than 5 applications containing LPS/ OSNI IP to the bodies set out in 3.1 in a twelve (12) month licence period. It is non-refundable.
3.3 If Your original IP has been downloaded from other Crown or licensed sources which allow downloads of LPS IP and contains third party Copyright, e-mail copyright@finance-ni.gov.uk.
4. Fair dealing
4.1 LPS complies with “Fair Dealing” as set out in the “Act”. The Licence confers no right to obtain extracts of LPS IP from public libraries. LPS IP obtained from public libraries may only be used for research or private study, meaning:
4.1.1 research is restricted to non-commercial purposes.
4.2.1 private study may not be for any commercial advantage.
5. High Volume Copying
5.1 For high volume copying (over 2000 copies) please refer to Copying 13 or e-mail copyright@finance-ni.gov.uk.
6. Licence Fees
6.1 See Price Lists.
6.2 Do not send payment until You receive an invoice from Us.
7. Right to Cancel
7.1 If You inform LPS IPR Branch in writing (e-mails are accepted) of Your decision not to publish within seven (7) days of the Commencement Date* we will not charge You.
*The Commencement Date will be the date of issue of the Licence.
8. Terms of Payment
8.1 You shall without set off or deduction, pay to us all monies due in respect of the Copyright Licence in accordance with the Sales Policy.
9. Copyright Acknowledgement
9.1 Each authorised copy must include one of the following acknowledgements:
9.1.1 “Land & Property Services Intellectual Property is protected by Crown Copyright and is reproduced with the permission of Land & Property Services under Delegated Authority from the Keeper of Public Records, ©Crown Copyright and database right Licence No. [Insert Licence number & year]”.
9.1.2 The note “©Crown Copyright [Insert Licence number and year]” will be sufficient for a finished reproduction of less than 200 sq cm.
10. Data Protection
10.1 Any personal data* You provide will only be used for the performance of Your contract with LPS as set out in the LPS privacy statement.
*"Personal Data” shall have the same meaning as is set out in s. 3(2) Data Protection Act 2018.
10.2 None of the OSNI products available from LPS contain Personal Data.
10.3 If, in the event of reproducing LPS IP under this Licence, You incorporate or combine any Personal Data with the LPS IP in the course of Your Internal Business Use, You acknowledge and accept that You shall:
10.3.1 Be solely responsible for ensuring all Data Protection Legislation is adhered to and complied with; and
10.3.2 Keep LPS harmless from any and all claims or liability for any breach of data protection legislation arising from any datasets you incorporate or combine with the LPS IP.
11. Change of Address or Company Name
11.1 You must inform IPR Branch in writing (e-mails are accepted) if you change Your address or Company name.
Apply
Contact Us
E-mail: copyright@finance-ni.gov.uk
Write to:
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Branch,
Land & Property Services,
Lanyon Plaza,
7 Lanyon Place,
Town Parks,
Belfast, BT1 3LP