BGS Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

BGS strives to identify, protect and maximise the exploitation of its existing and developing intellectual property (IP), in line with our scientific remit and our legal body’s (UKRI) IP and data-exploitation policies. Our intention is to balance the safe retention and control of national geoscience databases and geological information, with the need to release information openly.

To do so, BGS will take active measures to protect against the unauthorised copying and re-use of our materials, whilst creating clear and transparent IP policies to enable authorised reuse for our users, both for commercial and non–commercial purposes.

Compliance with legislation, government policies and guidance will continue to shape our IP policies and procedures. The copyright of all materials derived from BGS’s work is vested in UKRI.

We have two teams dealing with IPR at BGS:

Digital licensing can assist you with any queries relating to licences for the re-use of our data products.

Copyright and legal services provide an advisory and licensing service for the reproduction of our published material in paper or non-manipulable electronic format (e.g. ‘flat’ images).

IPR contacts

Copyright and legal services team

• Head of IPR and legal services
• Senior IPR advisor
• IPR assistant

Digital licensing team

• IPR and licensing manager
• Digital licensing team

Useful links

• Using BGS copyright material
• BGS copyright licence fees

Queries or complaints

If you have any queries or complaints about copyright please contact ipr@bgs.ac.uk.

For any queries or complaints about digital licencing please contact the IPR and digital licensing manager.

For other complaints, please refer to our customer feedback and complaints procedures.