Once you have identified the copyright owner of the image, you need to contact the owner of the copyright to the image you want to use in order to ask for permission to use that image. In some cases, it may be an individual; however, in most cases, it is a company or an institution that owns the rights to an image. In the case of a company or institution, you must contact their legal department to request and be granted permission. The best way to do this is by sending an email.

In requesting permission to use an image, clearly explain in detail how you will use the image in your academic work. For example, in the case of a creative component, it is important to clearly inform the owner of the image that it will be used in the text of the creative component and in the defense presentation.

InDetail: Example email: Request permission to use a copyrighted image to be used for educational/training purposes
To whom it may concern, My name is ______ and I am preparing to complete my creative component/thesis entitled ________, which will be completed by month day, year. I would like your permission to include the following images from your organization that is posted on this website for my creative component. Title or Description of Image: _________________________________________ URL: ___________________________ I understand that you control the rights to this image. The use of this image will be used for educational and/or training purposes and will be published on a digital repository. I would be very grateful if you could grant permission for use of this image as soon as possible, stating any credit lines that you require. If you do not control these rights, please let me know to whom I should apply. If you have any question or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering this request. Sincerely, __________________

InDetail: Example email: Request permission to use a copyrighted image for creative component that earns revenue
To whom it may concern; My name is ______ and I am preparing to complete my creative component/thesis entitled ________, which will be completed by month day, year. I would like your permission to include the following images from your organization that is posted on this website for my creative component. Title or Description of Image: _________________________________________ URL: ___________________________ I understand that you control the rights to this image. This image will be used as part of a learning module for Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) certification and is expected to charge users $___. This creative component will also be published on a digital repository. I would be very grateful if you could grant permission for use of this image as soon as possible, stating any credit lines that you require. If you do not control these rights, please let me know to whom I should apply. If you have any question or concerns, please feel free to contact me. Thank you for considering this request. Sincerely, __________________

If you send a request or multiple requests via email to the copyright owner of an image and you never receive a response that does not mean you can use that image. Without a response that grants permission, you cannot use that image in your academic work. In this case, another image must be used.

InDetail: Example email: Request permission to use a copyrighted image to be used for educational/training purposes

InDetail: Example email: Request permission to use a copyrighted image for creative component that earns revenue