Copyright for Authors

Historically, publication agreements have included a complete assignment of all copyright from author to publisher. In the past, print publication was the most effective means of dissemination of research and scholarly materials and this was not a concern to authors. Once an article was in print, it was available to the widest possible audience.

With the emerging model of open access and online publication, and the benefits that it brings for authors, this is no longer the case. As subscription rates climb, many libraries have been forced to cancel journal subscriptions. Further, as scholars increasingly do their research online, many print publications sit on library shelves, unused.

Understanding what copyright is, what rights to protect, and how to retain them has never been more important to authors of scholarly material.