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Am I eligible to claim PLR?

Please note that this is a summary.  Full details relating to eligibility is available in our Information Leaflet.

To qualify for PLR in a book you should be named on its title page or be entitled to a royalty payment from the publisher (but you do not have to own the copyright). When two or more contributors are involved they must divide the PLR between them. This is done on the basis of percentage shares which they must agree before applying for registration.

Every contributor named on the title page of a book needs to be consulted when agreeing percentage shares and the agreed division should reflect contribution. Each eligible contributor may then submit a separate application.  The following types of contributor must be taken into account:

• Writers - share to reflect contribution
• Illustrators/photographers - share to reflect contribution even if paid by fee
• Translators - share fixed at 30%
• Original author - even if out of copyright or deceased a notional share should be allocated to reflect contribution
• Adaptors/Re-tellers - 80% of the text share (after the illustrator's share is allocated) where the original author is named on the title page or 100% of the text share where no original author is named
• Ghost writers - if named on the title page or entitled to royalties from the publisher
• Editors/compilers/abridgers/revisers - share to reflect contribution.  Refer to the guidelines in Section 5 of the Information Leaflet for further details.

 Dead or Missing Contributors

Where a contributor has died or cannot be located, the remaining contributor(s) may still register a share. If similar books have been registered in the past, the same share agreement may stand. If not the shares should be reasonable in relation to actual contribution. Before submitting your application you must take into account all eligible contributors named on the title page (refer to information above), and apply to register a share which reflects your individual contribution to the book(s).

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 How do I apply?

After checking that you and your book(s) are eligible for PLR registration, you may apply via the following methods;

• Online using our online registration service
• Download an application form
• Contact us to request a form to be posted to you

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Can I apply on someone else's behalf?

It is not possible for someone else to apply on your behalf (i.e agent, publisher, partner), unless they are acting under a ‘Power of Attorney’, in which case we would need to see a copy of the legal documentation.

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Can I apply for books loaned outside the UK?

 The PLR office pays for borrowings from UK libraries.  To receive PLR from German, Dutch and Austrian Libraries please contact the ALCS

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Can I receive payments retrospectively?

We are unable to make retrospective payment as PLR is a property right which, under the terms of the Scheme, does not exist until an application has been processed and an entry has been made on the Register.  However, we collect library loans for the whole PLR year (July to June) before any calculations are made.  Provided your book(s) are registered by 30 June, they will be credited with loans recorded since the previous 1 July.

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How do I get an ISBN/book published?

ISBNs are available from the ISBN Agency. We are unable to assist with publishing books, however one of our links may help:

The Book Trust - Getting Published

Cultural Enterprise Office - FAQs

Vanity Publishing - Advice & Warning

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Can I apply if I live outside of the UK?

At the time of application you must have your only home or principal home in the UK or in any of the other countries within the European Economic Area (i.e. EC member states plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein).  The UK does not include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.  If you have more than one home, your principal home is the one where you spent most time during the 24 months before your application.

Further details on PLR schemes around the world can be found on our PLR International website.

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