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.
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. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on our individual journal websites, and more information about Creative Commons licence terms is available on the Creative Commons website.
To learn more about OA licences visit our licensing and copyright guide.