Special permission to share an audio recording of an Usborne book online - permission now ended

During the earlier phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, when schools, libraries and bookshops all over the world were closed, we relaxed our usual copyright guidance and granted permission to teachers, librarians, authors, booksellers, Independent Usborne Partners (UK & Europe), Independent Usborne Consultants (Canada), and Independent Usborne Books & More Consultants (USA) to create and share readings of Usborne books, and display the illustrations as part of those readings, subject to the conditions set out below. 

This permission was effective from 24th March 2020 to 31st July 2021. During that time, over 1,200 people contacted us to say they would be creating readings of Usborne books to share with children who could not access books in their schools, libraries or bookshops due to coronavirus restrictions. Thank you to all of those people, for making sure that children all over the world could continue to listen to stories during the lock-downs and closures.

This special permission has now ended, so if you were one of the people who shared books on this basis please make sure that your recordings are now deleted in line with our terms.

Now we've reverted to our standard permissions system, you might find these articles useful: 

The conditions previously published are listed below for your reference:

Conditions for permission granted between 24th March 2020 to 31st July 2021

  1. This permission only entitles you to make available readings of books published by Usborne.
  2. Teachers, librarians, authors, booksellers, Independent Usborne Partners (UK & Europe), Independent Usborne Consultants (Canada), and Independent Usborne Books & More Consultants (USA)  may make their readings available via a closed group or educational platform including by sharing an unlisted YouTube link. 
  3. Live events in which an Usborne book is read aloud may be streamed on social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook Live, Twitter and Instagram. The link must be deleted immediately after the event, to ensure that it is not automatically archived by the platform. (Links can be deleted by going to your “Live” tab and choosing “Delete Forever”).
  4. At the beginning of the reading, please state the title of the book, the name of the author and illustrator and that you are reading the book aloud with permission from Usborne.
  5. For picture books and other books aimed at younger readers, you may read and display the entire book in one recording. For novels and other books with chapters, you can read the entire book if you so wish, but you should limit each reading to a few chapters only. 
  6. All recordings of readings should be deleted no later than 31st July 2021 (unless this permission is subsequently extended by Usborne at its sole discretion).
  7. Please send an email to us at help@usborne.com with subject line "Audio recording permission" and give us the following information each time you make a live reading available or create a recording of a reading which is accessible by your students or the general public:

a) Title of book and name of author and illustrator
b) Name of the platform on which the reading or recording is made available and/or stored
c) Date that the reading aloud takes place or is recorded
d) Your location (city and country), or if you’re a teacher or librarian, the name and address of your school or library 

Please note – this permission applies only to free readings and to authors reading their own books. Anyone else who wishes to make available readings of Usborne books, or anyone planning to charge for access to live readings or recordings, should contact Usborne direct via the form on our website to request permission (which may be granted at Usborne’s discretion).

By creating and posting any readings aloud of Usborne books, you are deemed to have agreed to the terms of the permission as set out above.

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