Common examples where permission is ordinarily required include photocopying an entire article or entire book chapter into a course reader that students will purchase, or mounting substantial text or graphic work onto a publicly accessible World Wide Web page. When permission is necessary, you must contact the copyright owner or the owner's authorized agent. Often the copyright owner will be named in the formal copyright notice accompanying the original work. Such notices are no longer required to obtain copyright protection, so many works often lack the notice or include the name of someone who is not the actual or current copyright owner. Nevertheless, you should logically begin your search for the copyright owner by directly contacting the author or publisher.
Reference librarians can be extremely helpful for finding names and addresses.
You will also find that the quest for the copyright owner can be simplified by using your telephone to call the parties and to ask direct questions about ownership and rights of use. Please keep in mind that copyright owners have wide discretion when responding to your request for permission. Your permission may be granted or it may be denied. It may be granted, but only on condition of paying a fee. The fee may be modest or it may be exorbitant.