Hi, some advice for your question:

- To acquire a license for the WOMAC Scale, the first and most direct approach is to contact the official WOMAC website. Licensing information, including fees and application processes, is typically outlined there.The process may require you to provide details about your study, such as its scope, the number of subjects, and the duration.

- Additionally, you can try to establish direct contact with the copyright holder. The WOMAC scale is copyrighted by the University of Western Ontario. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. This process usually involves contacting the institution's licensing department or the researchers who developed the WOMAC scale. For certain versions, such as the Indian adaptation that may have been modified for local language and cultural relevance, it may be necessary to obtain additional permissions from the responsible researchers or institutions.

- Networking within academic and professional circlescan be helpful in engaging with colleagues who have experience with the WOMAC scale or have conducted similar studies, which can provide valuable insights and potentially expedite the licensing process. Academic conferences, professional forums, and online communities that focus on osteoarthritis research are excellent venues for networking.

- It can be beneficial to consult with a legal expert who specializes in intellectual property rights within the medical research field due to the complexity of copyright laws and licensing agreements. They can provide guidance on the licensing process and ensure that your use of the WOMAC scale complies with all legal requirements.

- Last but not least...Alternative Assessment Tools: Although obtaining a license for the WOMAC scale is the preferred option, exploring alternative assessment tools that do not require extensive licensing processes could be a pragmatic approach in the interim. The Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) or the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) recommended sets of outcome measures could be used as alternatives or complements to your study for different patient/clinical scenarios.

I hope I could help you, and wish you luck.

Phil

I also tried a license for WOMAC with no response.

Since October 2023, KOOS, HOOS, HOOS and FAOS licenses must be asked to Mapi Research Trust: https://www.mapi-trust.org/news-events/news/koos-hoos-and-faos.

Looking for other osteoarthritis scores that requires no licenses (including funded studies or commercial uses).