The threat of legal action has led to 46 local authorities obtaining a copyright licence in the past 12 months.
The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) said it had seen a ;significant increase’ in licence applications following its legal action against Brighton & Hove City Council last April for copyright infringement. The council was forced to pay an undisclosed sum and take a licence for future copying.
The CLA said the increase in local authorities becoming reflects the growing awareness of copyright compliance among the sector.
CLA legal director, Martin Delaney, said: ‘The announcement that over forty local authorities have taken CLA licences makes for pleasing reading. It demonstrates that an attitude change is underway among councils, although a significant number do remain unlicensed whilst most likely copying from CLA titles.’
The CLA warned that 130 councils remain unlicensed despite copying from print and digital title.