Copyright, Licensing, and Author Rights in Open Access

Abstract

Who owns a published article, and what may readers do with it? This article explains how author-retained copyright combines with Creative Commons licensing to enable broad reuse while protecting attribution. We compare the most common licences, clarify what CC BY means for text and data mining, translation, and redistribution, and discuss the implications for authors who wish to deposit their work in repositories. We also offer practical guidance for journals drafting a clear, author-friendly copyright notice, and explain the difference between copyright, licensing, and the version of record. The goal is a transparent policy that benefits authors, readers, and the scholarly record alike.