Rights and Permissions
A text is someone's work. Before you perform, record or publish an interpretation, you need to know whether you are allowed to use it. This page offers a practical introduction, not legal advice.
Why rights matter
Copyright protects the expression of an idea: the words of a poem, story, script or song lyric. Performing a text in public, recording it or sharing it online may require permission. Respecting rights is part of respecting the writer.
| Use | May need permission | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reading privately | Usually no. | No public performance or copying. |
| Classroom performance | Usually covered by school arrangements, but check. | Educational use is not unlimited. |
| Public performance | Often yes. | The work is being performed for an audience. |
| Recording | Often yes. | A copy is being made. |
| Publishing online | Often yes. | The work is being communicated to the public. |
| Adapting or cutting | Often yes. | Changing the work may infringe moral rights. |
Rules differ by country and by the institution. When in doubt, ask the copyright owner or your school's copyright contact.
Public domain
Public-domain works are no longer protected by copyright, usually because the copyright term has expired. They can generally be performed and adapted freely, but you should still check the edition, translation and jurisdiction.
- A modern translation of an ancient text may still be in copyright.
- An annotated edition may have its own copyright in the notes.
- A recording of a public-domain work may be separately protected.
- Rules vary between countries.
Creative Commons and open licences
Some texts are released under licences that allow reuse under conditions. Read the specific licence: attribution, non-commercial use, no derivatives and share-alike are common conditions. A licence is not the same as public domain.
| Licence element | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attribution | You must credit the creator. |
| Non-commercial | You may not use it for commercial purposes. |
| No derivatives | You may not adapt or cut the work. |
| Share-alike | New work must carry the same licence. |
Asking for permission
Write a short, clear request. Explain who you are, what you want to perform, where and when, and whether you will record or share it.
Model request: “My name is ... and I am a Year 9 student at ... . I would like to perform a three-minute extract from your poem ... at our school showcase on ... . The performance will be recorded for families who cannot attend. Could you please confirm whether you permit this use, and how you would like to be credited?”
This is an original teaching example, not a real request.
Keep a record of the reply. If you do not receive permission, choose another text.
Attribution
Even when permission is not required, attribution is good practice. Name the writer, the title and the source. For a translation, name the translator. For an adaptation, say what you changed.
| Element | Example |
|---|---|
| Writer | Name of the author. |
| Title | Exact title, in quotation marks or italics. |
| Source | Book, anthology, website or collection. |
| Translator or editor | Name where relevant. |
| Licence | The licence or permission statement. |
| Changes | “Cut for performance” or “adapted”. |
Student writing
If you perform a classmate's text, ask for consent. If you record or publish it, ask separately. The writer may want to be named, anonymised or not involved. Respect their choice.
- Get consent in writing where possible.
- Say how the text will be used and for how long.
- Allow the writer to withdraw before publication.
- Do not change the text without agreement.
- Credit the writer as they wish.
Moral rights
Many countries recognise moral rights: the right to be attributed, the right not to have work treated in a derogatory way, and the right to privacy in some contexts. Even if you have permission to perform, you should not distort or mock the work in a way that harms the writer's reputation.
Recording and sharing
A recording creates a copy and may require additional permission. If you upload a performance, check the platform's copyright rules and the school's publishing policy. Do not upload a performance of a copyrighted text without permission.
Activity: rights note
- Choose a text you might perform.
- Identify the writer, title, source and date.
- Decide whether it is public domain, licensed or copyrighted.
- Record what you would need to do to perform, record or share it.
- Write a permission request if needed.
- If you cannot resolve the rights, choose another text.
If you cannot confirm the rights, do not publish the recording. A classroom performance may be possible under school arrangements; sharing it online is a different question.
Common errors
- Assuming “educational” means “free”. Educational use has limits.
- Confusing public domain with publicly available. A text online is not necessarily free to use.
- Ignoring translations and editions. They may have separate rights.
- Recording without permission. A recording is a copy.
- Failing to credit the writer. Attribution matters even when permission is not required.
- Using a classmate's text without consent. Consent is not optional.
Next, study voice and character to begin the vocal work. The pacing, pause and emphasis page turns close reading into sound.