You can gain permission to use someone else's copyrighted work by:

• transfer of one or more of the original rights (this will not be covered here), or
• obtaining a license from the owner to use the work.

When you request permission from a copyright holder to use their work, you should always include:

• Your name;
• Your address (as "permanent" a one as possible);
• Your telephone and fax numbers;
• Your email address, if possible (especially if you are requesting electronic rights);
• An exact description of the work you want to use (if possible, include a copy; if not, be as specific as possible);
• An exact description of where you intend to use the work:
  • Names of all authors;
  • Approximate size of your entire work (e.g, nunber of pages);
  • Publisher, URL, or other source through which others will have access to your work;
  • Proposed publication date of your work;
  • If known, the anticipated "life" of your work;
  • If appropriate, the price of your work; and
  • An estimate of the number of copies of your work to be printed, or other appropriate distribution count;
• A description of the specific rights you seek (e.g., for use in all classes you teach, or your department teaches; for all editions and future revisions of your published work; for USA, North American, or world rights; for English-language specific languages, or all languages; for print, performance, display, or electronic rights; etc.).

You should also expect to have to give something back, and should thus request their instructions on:

• wording of the credit line;
• their specific copyright notice;
• any applicable fees, including payment instructions; and
• any other conditions.

While you are at it, you should also ask them to confirm that they actually have the appropriate rights to grant you this permission or, if not, to direct you to the appropriate rights-holder.