Here's a fun one: marketing, from the UK's Copyright Licensing Agency, trying to sell a licence to its database, using AI as the lever.
Note the repeated references to the recipient being "unlicensed". One, in red!
But this is just marketing.
![19 October 2026
Your status:
Unlicensed
Does your firm have the permission it needs? |
Dear [x]
Legal journals, professional publications, industry reports and specialist analysis all help legal professionals stay informed, advise clients, and make decisions with confidence.
You and your colleagues may regularly copy, share, store or use this content to prompt Al tools every day. Many firms are surprised to discover that existing subscriptions or database licences don't always provide permission for these
activities. If your firm is currently unlicensed, you may not have permission in place to support all of them.
That's where the Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) comes in.
A CLA Law Licence enables legal professionals to reuse content from millions of published sources, including material that may sit outside legal databases and publisher subscriptions. It provides broad coverage for common digital and
print reuse activities, including the use of published content to prompt Al tools.
3 reasons to secure a CLA Law Licence
1. Using AI? If employees are already using articles, extracts from journals or reports to prompt Al tools, a CLA Law Licence provides the necessary permissions to support this way of working.
2. Concerned about risk? Unlike many Al tools and other content sources, the CLA Law Licence includes an indemnity against copyright infringement for covered activities, providing an extra layer of reassurance.
3. Looking beyond legal databases? Extend your permissions to a vast range of professional, business and legal publications from CLA’s repertoire that sit outside existing subscriptions and publisher agreements.
The trusted journals, reports and professional publications used across the legal sector are created by authors and publishers who invest heavily in producing high-quality content. CLA licence fees help ensure creators are remunerated
when that content is copied and shared.
As your firm is currently unlicensed, now might be a good time to review whether your existing permissions reflect how published content is being used today, particularly as Al becomes part of everyday work. A CLA Law Licence can
help ensure your firm’s permissions keep pace with the way work is evolving.
organisations across the UK rely on CLA licences to support the lawful reuse of published content. Purchase a licence online or speak to our team.
Best regards,
Head of Growth & Renewals - Corporate scan the QR code, or Visit: link.cla.co.uk/law
PTO](https://mastodon.neilzone.co.uk/system/media_attachments/files/117/507/756/932/645/456/original/b62c605787fcfe7c.png)
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@neil They seem to be saying you need a licence to use AI. That seems very odd, since the data in AI was all taken without permission.. shouldn't they be going after the companies that took the data in the first place?. And how do the license.. they 'renumerate the creators'. Good freaking luck picking apart the average slop to find them all.
To be honest it's so insane I had to look to see if the cla was actually a real thing..
@neil You should send them a solictor's letter in response ;)
@neil They've been employing the TV licensing people I see. If they ever send me one it's going to the advertising standards agency 8)
Mind you the TV people ought to be locked up IMHO. I'm sure there are rules about obtaining money by deception and threats
@neil That's a pathetic amount of red ink compared to the TV Licensing people.
And if you ever annoy a private parking company they probably get bulk discounts in the amount of red ink they use :p