Author Rights in a
Digital World
Hilde Colenbrander, UBC Inba Kehoe, UVic
Scholarly Communications Workshop June 11 and 12, 2007
What is Copyright?
Promotes the creation of and access to
artistic, literary, musical, dramatic and other creative productions
Right to authorize or to prevent copying
Life of the author + 50 years
From Canadian Copyright Law, at Creative Commons Canada:
Rights of Creators/Authors
Exclusive rights to:
produce or reproduce a work perform a work
publish an unpublished work
translate, convert, or adapt a work
communicate the work by telecommunication to
the public
exhibit a work (artistic)
rent a computer program or sound recording
Rights of Creators/Authors
Moral rights:
The right of attribution The right of integrity The right of association
Why Should Authors Care?
Re-use materials, 2
ndeditions, etc.
Publisher monopolies
A Bundle of Rights
Transferred in whole or in part
Exclusively or non-exclusively
For specific time periods, or
indefinitely
Copyright Transfer Agreements
What rights do authors assign to
publishers?
What rights do authors retain?
Managing Author Rights
What rights does the publisher need?
Exclusive right to first publication
What rights does the author keep?
Republication in a different format, medium,
place, or language
Posting a copy to one or more web sites Sending copies to colleagues or students Creating a derivative work
Options for Creators/Authors
Option 1: Traditional Practice
Transfer ownership of copyright to
Options for Creators/Authors
Option 2: Transfer ownership
BUT reserve some specific rights for the
Options for Creators/Authors
Option 3: Retain Ownership
And give the publisher an exclusive license
Tools: RoMEO
Publisher Copyright Policies & Self-Archiving:
Green Publishers
Blue Publishers
Yellow Publishers White Publishers
Tools: Author Addenda
SPARC
MIT
Creative Commons/Science Commons
Scholar’s Copyright Addendum Engine
Tools: Creative Commons Licensing
Creative Commons:
http://creativecommons.org/
Science Commons:
http://sciencecommons.org/
Creative Commons Canada:
http://creativecommons.ca/
The Library’s Role?
Actively support copyright management:
Understand faculty attitudes & behaviour Educate faculty Create a place where faculty can exercise
their retained rights (i.e. a repository)
See John Ober’s article:
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlpubs/crlnews/backissues2006/apr il06/facilitatingopenaccess.htm
In an openly accessible world …
Authors retain copyright
Copyright is creatively shared
