Copyright Information for Authors, Researchers, and Scholars
Rights of copyright holders
1. Reproduction
2. Modification
3. Distribution
4. Public performance
5. Public display
Who owns the copyright?
Creators of original works
Creators' assignees
Employers: works for hire
Sample Statements of Ownership
Learn about Creative Commons through YouTube
Use Creative Commons to add your copyright notice to your ETD.
Permission to use a copyrighted work is NOT required if:
- Work is a fact or an idea
- Fair use
- Work is in the public domain
A public domain work is not protected by copyright and may be freely used by everyone. A work is also in the public domain if it is a work of the US Government or the term of copyright has expired.
Tools to help determine when copyright expires:
When US Works Pass into the Public Domain (UNC)
Copyright Term and Public Domain (Cornell)
Is It Protected by Copyright? (ALA)
US © Office
Circulars and Factsheets
Copyright Basics
(2008)
Copyright Information for VT
Citing copyrighted works
Citation Management Tools
© Policies and Tools
ETD Copyright Flier
Fair Use Tools
Fair Use Analyzer Test tool
Fair Use Checklist Weigh the 4 factors
Registering copyright
Why? Possibly receive greater compensation, with less documentation when filing an infringement suit
How?
Register online
Fees
Do you need permission?
Publisher copyright & self-archiving policiesSample letter to request permission
- Sherpa RoMEO
- Elsevier’s policy
Publishers Attitudes towards ETDs
- Do Open Access ETDs Diminish Publishing Opportunities in the Social Sciences and Humanities?
Ramirez et al. College & Research Libraries, 2013.- Do Open Access ETDs Effect Publishing Opportunities in the Sciences? Findings from the 2012 Survey of Academic Journal Editors.
Ramirez et al. College & Research Libraries, 2013.- Preliminary Findings from the 2012 Science Publishers' Survey
McMillan et al., 15th International Symposium on ETDs, 2012- Findings from the 2011 Humanities and Social Science Publishers' Survey
College and Research Libraries. Preprint March 2012- Do ETDs Deter Publishers?
College and Research Libraries News, 2001- ETDs: A Survey of Editors and Publishers
Joan Dalton, International Symposium on ETDs, 2000- ETDs as Prior Publication: What the Editors Say
Nancy Seamans, Library Hi Tech, 2003- ETDs: Two Surveys of Editors and Publishers
Joan Dalton and Nancy Seamans in ETD: A Sourcebook for Educators, Students, and Librarians. NY: Marcel Dekker, 2004
