CLA’s Public Administration Licence: Your 5 Key Need-To-Knows

Here are the five essentials you need to know:

1. Now Includes Workplace Generative AI Permissions

The workplace is evolving, and so are copyright risks. With the rise of Generative AI (GAI) tools, professionals increasingly use published content in prompts to generate summaries, reports and creative outputs. Did you know that 82% of UK professionals have used third party content in Generative AI prompts? From May 2025, the CLA Public Administration Licence includes extended permissions for the use of third party content as prompts in generative AI tools, subject to licence terms. This means you can leverage these GAI tools with confidence, knowing that rightsholders are fairly remunerated while your team stays compliant.
Learn more about GAI permissions.

Learn more about GAI permissions.

2. No NLA Repertoire Crossovers

One common misconception is that a single licence covers all published material. In reality, CLA and NLA Media Access cover separate repertoires. A CLA licence covers books, journals, trade magazines and 13,000 websites, while NLA focuses on newspapers and certain media sites. There is no crossover between the two. If your organisation uses both types of content, you’ll need licences from both bodies . The Public Administration Licence ensures compliance for CLA-covered works, helping you avoid costly infringement risks and maintain robust governance standards.

Read the full article on CLA and NLA licences compared

3. Press Cuttings: Multiple Recipients Permitted

Without the right permissions, forwarding a press clipping to multiple recipients, even within your own organisation, can breach copyright law. The CLA Public Administration Licence addresses this by allowing lawful reuse of press cuttings supplied by licensed agencies. This means you can circulate coverage for briefings, reports and internal communications without fear of infringement.

Without the right permissions, forwarding a press clipping to multiple recipients, even within your own organisation, can breach copyright law. The CLA Public Administration Licence addresses this by allowing lawful reuse of press cuttings supplied by licensed agencies. Specifically, the licence allows more than one designated recipient within your organisation to receive the coverage, and it allows further sharing, saving, and copying of that material internally – often referred to as “multiple access” and “multiple users/seats”. This means you can circulate coverage for briefings, reports and internal communications without fear of infringement.

4. Include Print and Digital Content Use

Gone are the days when copyright compliance only meant photocopying. Today’s workplace involves digital-to-digital copying, scanning and sharing across intranets and email. The Public Administration Licence covers a wide range of formats, including:

This flexibility ensures that whether you’re preparing a policy briefing or a training module, your content use remains lawful and efficient.

5. Supports Governance and Compliance Frameworks

Copyright compliance isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s a cornerstone of good governance. By adopting the CLA Public Administration Licence, your organisation demonstrates a commitment to responsible content use and risk management. The licence provides annual blanket cover, reducing administrative burden and safeguarding against reputational and financial risks. Plus, as a not-for-profit organisation, CLA channels licence fees back into the creative industries, ensuring authors, publishers and visual artists are fairly remunerated. In short, you’re not just protecting your organisation; you’re supporting the UK’s creative economy.

Why it matters in the public sector?

Public sector organisations rely on published content to inform decisions, shape policy and communicate effectively. Without proper licensing, everyday actions like sharing an article or saving a report on a shared drive can lead to copyright infringement. The CLA Public Administration Licence offers peace of mind, enabling lawful reuse of millions of titles while adapting to modern challenges like the use of published content to prompt generative AI tools.

Next steps

Act responsibly. Protect your organisation. Support creatives. Copy, Right.