In order to republish copyrighted works, one needs to obtain permission from the rightsholder.  After locating the owner of the copyrighted material, a written permission detailing the intended use of the material is recommended.

Here are some sample permission letters available on the Internet:

    From the Office of General Counsel at the University of Texas

    From the Consortium for Educational Technology in University Systems
 

There are some online services that allow one to apply for permission without locating the copyright holder:
Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) has a Republication Licensing Service that allows one to apply for permission to republish textual and non-textual materials into print and electronic format for a processing charge.

American Society of Media Photographers works with Media Image Resources Alliance (MIRA), an online licensing system operated by CCC, which also allows one to apply for permission to publish photographic materials.

To obtain permission for other non-book materials:

Music

• The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) explains copyright issues such as webcasting and statutory licensing.  It has links to the three music licensing organizations that one needs to contact for music performances.
• ASCAP – The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has a licensing section and a form where one can contact ASCAP licensing.
• BMI has a Digital Licensing Center where one can fill out licensing forms online.
• SESAC has a licensing section which includes a licensing request form that one can fill out online.
• Music Publishers’ Association has a Copyright Resource Center.  MPA will help one find publisher/copyright information so as to obtain the necessary permission to perform or arrange it.
• The Harry Fox Agency, Inc. represents more than 22,000 American music publishers and provides licensing of copyrighted musical materials for use in a movie, commercial, TV program, public performances, production of a new recording, etc.  If one wishes to synchronize music with visual images, one also needs to get licensing from the Harry Fox Agency, Inc.

• The Motion Picture Licensing Corporation grants rights for public performance.  There is a toll-free number on their website.

• Icopyright.com offers an instant online service so one can reproduce digital content from publishers that are partners with icopyright.  All registered content with icopyright will have a logo next to the copyright notice.