Crown copyright applies to works produced by employees of the Crown, for example material created by civil servants, ministers and government departments and agencies. This includes legislation, government codes of practice, Ordnance Survey mapping, government reports, official press releases, academic articles and many public records.

Parliamentary copyright applies to works produced by or under the control of the Parliament, for example Bills, White and Green Papers and Select Committee reports. Parliamentary copyright applies to works produced after 1st August 1989. Any works produced prior to this date fall under Crown copyright.

It is possible to use and reuse information under Crown Copyright by using the Open Government Licence (OGL). Details of this can be found on the OPSI website.