It usually belongs in the first instance to the creator of the material, but like other forms of property it can be sold or licensed to others.

If you use copyright-protected material, for example by playing music in public or by copying text or images from an online source, you must ensure that you obtain any necessary permission from the copyright owner.

For a detailed explanation of copyright law, see A Guide to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. This factsheet focuses on the practical questions of when permission is needed, and how to apply for permission. It also includes a short summary of how to avoid copyright infringement.