LibGuides: Copyright: Copyright, Author's Rights and Scholarly Publishing

Copyright, Author's Rights and Scholarly Publishing

Like any other work, when you write the manuscript of a scholarly article, book chapter or book, you immediately own the copyright.

► However, for most of the 20th century, it was expected that when you submitted your manuscript to a scholarly publisher, you would transfer the copyright to the publisher. When you are deciding on a publisher, be sure to carefully review their “Instructions for Authors” to learn what their copyright policies are.

In recent years, there has been a movement toward open access publishing, that is, publishing that is accessible to any user without payment to the publisher. This is linked to spreading interest in author’s retaining rights to their work

► For example, the University of California, starting in 2013, mandated that UC authors must deposit copies of their works in eScholarship, the UC’s open access repository. UC asserts a non-exclusive right to copies of the manuscript. Most publishers have agreed to this, though some want the UC copies embargoed for a limited period.

► Many open access journals now offer, or mandate, the use of Creative Commons licensing for their publications.

► Many funding agencies in the U.S. and elsewhere now require that works funded by them be made available open access. By the end of 2025, all Federal funding agencies are now required to develop open access policies.

► The Directory of Open Access Journals only lists fully open access journals which use Creative Commons licensing.