Getting permission to use music video's still image

[Jungsun]

Hi,

Recently, I wrote a review on music videos including the music video by Years & Years performing Desire ((C) 2015 Polydor Ltd. (UK), http://vevo.ly/k5cA9H) for an academic journal, The Senses and Society (Publisher: Taylor & Francis). I want to insert a still image of the music video in the review and need the permission from its copyright holder. I've tried to contact the artist, manager, and company via all possible contacts such as e-mail, social media message, and letter, but I've not received any reply. In this case, is there any other way to get permission to use the image? There are some difficulties in contacting them from overseas, South-Korea...

[AndyJ]

As both the music video and the academic journal concerned originate from the UK, you do not need permission as including a still would be covered by the exception in UK law (the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988) contained in section 30, which is there for exactly your purpose. I am not familiar with South Korean copyright law but I would be very surprised if there was not a similar provision, as this is mandated by the Berne Convention to which South Korea is a signatory.