Open Access

On this theme page, you can find information about copyright and alternative publication licences.
If you are considering using an alternative publication licence, or amending the copyright contract with your publisher, we would be pleased to be of assistance. For all of your questions regarding copyright, licences, open access publishing, and all other related topics, please contact Saskia Woutersen (e-mail saskia.woutersen@uva.nl, telephone 020-525 2412).

Copyright

You automatically retain copyright on all texts you write. This means that only you as the writer may determine what happens with your work: whether or not, and if so how many examples may be printed and whether your work may be distributed or not.

Licences

When granting a licence, the copyright remains entirely in your possession. You "lease" your work, for an (un)limited period of time. A licence holder may only do what is agreed upon (the so-called "right of use"). Licence to publish and Creative Commons Licence are the licences primarily used for the results of academic research.

Copyright toolbox (with sample wording)

SURF and JISC have developed a copyright toolbox to inform publishers and authors about copyrights.
The toolbox contains two important aids for authors:
1. the licence to publish (which gives the publisher the right to publish, but all copyrights remain in possession of the author) and;
2. example sentences in case the author only wishes to make minor amendments to the proposed agreement by the publisher.