Statutory guidance

Our public task, copyright and Crown copyright

Updated 9 August 2019

© Crown copyright 2019

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/companies-house-accreditation-to-information-fair-traders-scheme/public-task-copyright-and-crown-copyright

1. Statement of public task

Companies House carries out the functions of the Registrar of Companies as laid down in legislation, and some delegated functions of the Secretary of State.

Our main functions are:

  • the incorporation of new companies, re-registration and changes of company name
  • the dissolution of companies and striking off the register of defunct companies
  • examining and registering company information delivered under the Companies Act and related legislation
  • making the information available for public inspection and use

This includes, but is not limited to:

  • limited companies
  • limited liability partnerships
  • limited partnerships
  • European limited liability companies
  • European economic interest groupings
  • overseas companies

Copyright is usually owned by the person or organisation that created the work. The material published by Companies House can be broadly split into 2 categories.

2.1 Material produced by Companies House

Material of this sort is subject to Crown copyright protection and is made available on GOV.UK under the Open Government Licence v3.0, except where otherwise stated. Crown copyright also covers database rights, logos and visual images.

Any Crown copyright protected material held by Companies House (other than the Royal Arms) may be reproduced free of charge in any format or medium provided it is reproduced accurately and not used in a misleading context.

2.2 Material on the public register

With the exception of a small category of material which is exempt from statutory disclosure requirements, Companies House is required by law to make the information comprised in documents sent to us, available for public inspection.

Information on the public register is made available by virtue of approvals issued by us in accordance with section 47 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and Schedule 1 of the Database Regulations (SI 1997/3032).

Companies House imposes no rules or requirements on how the information on the public register is used.

3. Companies House and re-use

As a public information provider, we make all information relating to limited companies available for public inspection. We place no restriction on how the information is used after purchase, other than the following:

  • all customers, including bulk customers, must take their own legal advice regarding possible breach of third party copyright
  • customers cannot reproduce the Crown insignia
  • if information is used from guidance notes, the website, publications or statistical tables the customer must credit Companies House as the source of the information
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