Technology & Digital UK-wide

Which publishing rules apply to your business

Publishing covers two very different businesses: print and periodical publishers (books, newspapers, journals, directories) and software and video-game publishers. Both share a core of duties — copyright, data protection, electronic-marketing rules and the usual workplace duties — but print publishers also have legal deposit and subscription rules, while game publishers must get age ratings. Work out which you are and follow the right guide.

Guide summary

Find out if you are a print publisher or a software/game publisher, then follow the right rules. Start with the shared duties (copyright, data protection, electronic marketing and workplace duties). Print publishers must deposit copies with libraries and follow subscription rules. Game publishers must get age ratings for video games.

  • Work out which kind of publisher you are
  • Follow the shared duties guide for copyright, data protection, electronic marketing and workplace rules
  • If you publish books, newspapers, journals or directories, deposit copies with legal deposit libraries
  • If you publish books etc, follow subscription and cancellation rules
  • If you publish directories or mailing lists, handle personal data lawfully
  • If you publish software or video games, get age ratings for non-exempt games
  • Manage software copyright and licensing
  • Follow online-safety duties if games have chat or user content
  • Use the publishing compliance checklist to check you have everything
  • If you do both types, follow each section
On this page

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Publishing is the business of issuing content to the public — in print, online or as software. Whatever you publish, you share a core of duties: copyright, data protection, electronic marketing, and the workplace health-and-safety, fire and equality duties. Beyond that, what you must do depends on what you publish. Start with the shared duties, then follow the section for your kind of publishing — if you do both, follow each.

  1. 1

    Put the shared duties in place

    Whatever you publish, start with the universal spine. Follow "Run a compliant publishing business" for copyright, data protection, electronic marketing (PECR), employers' liability insurance, health and safety, fire safety and equality.

  2. 2

    If you publish books, newspapers, journals or directories

    In print or online, you must deposit copies with the legal deposit libraries, meet consumer subscription and cancellation rules, and (for directories and mailing lists) handle personal data lawfully. Follow "Print and periodical publishing rules".

  3. 3

    If you publish software or video games

    Non-exempt video games must carry a statutory age rating before supply; you also manage software copyright and licensing, and — for games with chat or user-generated content — online-safety duties. Follow "Software and video-game publishing rules".

  4. 4

    Confirm you have covered everything

    Finish with the publishing compliance checklist to confirm every obligation that applies to you is in place.

Official sources

Authoritative starting points for publishers.