Copyright and license
Who retains the copyright?
Generally with Gold OA the author retains copyright however it is wise to check the individual policy of the publisher.
When articles are published in subscription titles in most cases the copyright is transferred to the publisher or society who publishes the title, although authors retain the right to place a version of the manuscript in a repository after an embargo period. Again check the publisher’s website for specific policies regarding Green OA.
What is a Creative Commons license?
Creative Commons (CC) provides free and easy-to-use copyright licenses giving the public the right to share, use, and even build upon an author’s creative work. The non-profit organization CC also protects the people who use an author’s work, so they don’t have to worry about copyright infringement as long as they abide by the specified conditions. Licensing OA articles under a Creative Commons license has evolved as the standard for OA publishing. One of the most liberal CC licenses for publishing scientific articles is the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, as it allows the public to adapt and share an author’s work, even for commercial use, as long as the author is properly cited. Several other licenses exist and you should check with the publisher what license the paper is published under; some publishers give you a choice when you are publishing in a hybrid title.