|
Retaining Rights to Use Your Works: Copyright Challenges
for Scholars
Manage Your Intellectual Property
As a researcher, your intellectual work is your primary asset. Understanding
and maintaining your rights are fundamental methods to support a sustainable
system of scholarly communication.
"Unbundle" rights:
Traditionally, publishers require you to sign a standard contract before
publication, usually referred to as a "Copyright Transfer Agreement," "Publication
Agreement," or "License to Publish." Often, these contracts
transfer all of your rights as a bundle to the publisher. As an author, you
have the option to unbundle this package to retain certain rights, such as
the abilities to post your work to the public Internet or to use your research
in a class setting. You can suggest changes to the language of the
agreement in order to make this happen.
Scholars may wish to negotiate for the following language
which would allow them, at least, to use their own works for their teaching
and research purposes.
Sample Publishing Language:
"Owner hereby
grants the author a non-exclusive, world-wide, royalty-free perpetual and
irrevocable right and license to copy, distribute, display, and perform
this Work, in whole or in part, and to incorporate the Work, in whole or
in part, in his/her teaching
and research activities including publication of the on the author's non-profit
educational Web site and to fullfill deposit mandates from funders such
as the NIH."
More resources:
- The Scholarly Communication Center serves as a resource to the NC
State community on scholarly communications issues, and can provide advice
on how to retain key rights for your work. Click on the link to review the Copyright
Tutorial.
- The Association for Research Libraries has created a "Know
Your Copyrights" brochure and an FAQ with
resources for teaching faculty.
|
