Media Permissions & Licensing for Oral History
Library processing times rarely align with tight media deadlines. We offer neither rush or expedited services, so please plan ahead.
Analog‑to‑digital conversion is handled by an external vendor and can take up to 8 weeks. Materials already in digital form are typically delivered within 2 weeks.
The Oral History Archives at Columbia provide neither research nor editing services.
The Oral History Archives at Columbia grant permissions and collect licensing fees only for materials whose copyright is owned by Columbia University Trustees. Most catalog entries list the copyright holder, but you can always verify an item's status by contacting the Oral History Reference Desk.
If Columbia does not own the copyright, you must obtain permission directly from the narrator (or the narrator’s estate). We protect narrators’ privacy and therefore do not share personal contact information.
Any use beyond fair use (reproduction, quotation, publication, broadcast, derivative works, public performance, or display) requires a media permission license. See our Media Permissions and Licensing sheet for details.
All licensing complies with existing agreements with interviewees, interviewers, or donors.
License Fees (for materials whose copyright is owned by Columbia University Trustees)
Non‑profit (radio, podcast, TV)
- Transcript — $25
- Audio — $75
- Video — $150
- Scholarly Use — no fee
Commercial (radio, podcast, TV)
- Transcript — $50
- Audio — $175
- Video — $300
- Scholarly Use — no fee
Licenses are non‑exclusive, cover the entire interview, and are in perpetuity. Licensing fees are separate from reproduction costs (duplication, transfer, etc.).
- Audio → MP3
- Transcript → PDF
- Video → MP4