Published content sits at the heart of every biotech and life science workflow Published research, peer-reviewed articles, and industry reports inform how teams stay up to date, make decisions and communicate their work. This published STM content underpins early discovery, development planning and the evidence behind future pipelines. But every time that content is shared, saved, reused or entered into an AI tool prompts, permission may be required. Typical day-to-day activities include: Sharing journal articles with colleagues, CROs and MedComms agencies Citing studies in regulatory submissions for new drugs or clinical trials Using content in pitch decks, board reports and patent applications Prompting generative AI tools with published scientific content Storing and sharing materials between offices and partners globally In a small founding team, this can feel manageable. As organisations scale, and as AI tools become embedded in everyday workflows, informal practices create common copyright pitfalls and become a governance gap that investors, regulators and partners increasingly look for. AI-native workflows are accelerating content reuse Biotech teams are among the fastest adopters of generative AI tools in the workplace, using generative tools to accelerate research, draft materials and extract insight from published studies. This often involves pasting and reusing third-party content at speed and scale, embedding copying into everyday workflows. As adoption grows, so does the volume of reuse, typically ahead of any formal AI or copyright controls. Ad-hoc practices break down as you scale What starts as informal, manageable behaviour in a founding team becomes harder to control as the organisation grows. Content flows across teams, partners and borders, while expectations from investors and regulators increase. Without a clear framework, content reuse becomes difficult to track, evidence and justify under scrutiny. One licence, broad coverage, built for your industry The CLA Pharmaceutical Licence was developed in close consultation with the pharmaceutical and life sciences sector. It gives your team consistent, lawful rights to copy and share content from millions of leading scientific, technical and medical publications. Support your funding journey Demonstrate that third‑party content is being managed responsibly as part of your wider governance approach Scale with confidence Replace ad hoc decisions with a consistent framework your team can rely on Work across borders Enable more consistent permissions for teams and collaborators operating internationally Use AI responsibly Provide a clearer basis for using published material to prompt AI tools Choosing the right licence for your organisation Pharmaceutical Licence For UK-based organisations managing internal content use and regulatory compliance Multinational Pharmaceutical Licence For organisations headquartered outside the UK with UK operations Extended Multinational Pharmaceutical Licence For UK-headquartered organisations with international teams Pharmaceutical Collaboration Licence A free add-on that allows share among organisations that hold relevant CLA and Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) Licences All licence variations include workplace generative AI permissions to support the reuse of opt-ed in published content in prompting permitted generative AI tools. Not sure which licence is right for you? Speak to our team Supporting the way biotech teams use content Permission to reuse millions of scientific publications Copy, share and reuse content from a wide range of peer‑reviewed journals, books and industry sources, Workplace generative AI permissions Lawfully use extracts from opted-in published content to prompt permitted generative AI tools. Global coverage Support teams operating across the UK, US and more than 40 territories through licence options. Share content across your ecosystem Distribute content internally and with external partners, including CROs and MedComms agencies. A simpler approach to permissions One licence covers millions of publications, reducing the need for individual requests. Support the creation of new scientific content Ensure rightsholders and content creators are paid for their work and support the production of new STM content. Further resources Pharmaceutical Licence For more information on the Pharmaceutical Licence. View the licences Workplace AI Permissions Maximise efficiency with CLA’s new workplace generative AI licence permissions. Find out more Supporting the regulatory submission process Find out why a CLA Pharmaceutical Licence is invaluable for any company developing a new drug. Read the article Simple enquiry process Whether you’re ready to apply for a Pharmaceutical Licence, or want to talk through the right cover for your stage of growth, fill in the form below and a member of the CLA team will be in touch. "*" indicates required fields URLThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.First Name*Last Name*Organisation Name*Why are you contacting CLA*Use dropdownEnquire about a CLA LicenceBeen contacted by CLAEnquire about workplace copyright complianceTo copyright, trade mark or patent your business name or ideaOtherEmail*Phone*CLA provides licences and products to support the compliant reuse of published content. We do not provide trade mark, patent or copyrighting services. For advice on registering trade marks, copyright and IP rights please contact the UK Intellectual Property Office . What is your organisation size?*Use dropdown1-10 employees11-50 employees51-200 employees200+ employees1000+ employeesNot sureDo you use the services of a PR Agency or Media Monitoring Agency?*Use dropdownYesNoNot sureTell us more about your enquiry*This field is hidden when viewing the formLead OwnerThis field is hidden when viewing the formSectorBusinessFurther EducationHigher EducationThis field is hidden when viewing the formStatusThis field is hidden when viewing the formRecord TypeSF Lead Record TypeThis field is hidden when viewing the formLead SourceThis field is hidden when viewing the formUTM CampaignThis field is hidden when viewing the formUTM MediumThis field is hidden when viewing the formUTM SourcePrivacy Policy* By completing this form I agree to CLA's Privacy Policy Stay up to date Please select this box if you would like to receive publications, research, newsletters, events, and products news, from CLA CAPTCHA Biotech Start-up FAQs Why does an early-stage biotech start-up need a copyright licence? The same content reuse practices that established pharmaceutical organisations carry out also apply to early-stage biotech. Putting a copyright framework in place from day one supports IP governance, simplifies onboarding, and provides evidence of operational rigour during investor due diligence. Is the Pharmaceutical Licence affordable for a small team? Pharmaceutical Licence fees are based on the number of professional employees, so smaller teams pay smaller fees. Contact us for a quote tailored to your headcount and international presence. Does the Pharmaceutical Licence include Workplace Generative AI permissions? Yes. The CLA Pharmaceutical Licence includes Workplace Generative AI permissions, allowing the lawful copying and inclusion of opted-in published content to prompt permitted generative AI tools to generate outputs (subject to the terms and conditions of your licence). Do journal subscriptions remove the need for a CLA Licence? While subscriptions grant access to content, there's a critical distinction between accessing content and having the rights to copy and share it. Many publications include explicit copyright statements prohibiting copying, storing or sharing, so subscriptions do not automatically grant reuse rights. Can I share copies externally under the Pharmaceutical Licence? Yes, under certain conditions. You can send copies for regulatory submissions (in any jurisdiction), patent applications, or medical information requests. Sharing for external marketing is not permitted. See more
