Open Access for NJIT Authors

As the creator of a work, you own the copyright to that work. US copyright law grants you several exclusive rights as the copyright holder, including:

1. The right to reproduce the work
2. The right to prepare derivative works based on the original work
3. The right to distribute copies of the work
4. The right to publicly display the work
5. The right to publicly perform the work

However, there are a number of factors you should keep in mind when making decisions about how and where to publish.

Copyright ownership: Authors should be aware that when they sign a publishing agreement, they are transferring their copyright ownership to the publisher. This means that the publisher will have the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and make their work available to the public. However, some publishers may allow authors to retain certain rights, such as the right to self-archive their work or to reuse parts of it in future publications.

Article processing charges (APCs): Some open access publishers charge authors an APC to cover the cost of publication and peer review. Authors should be aware of any APCs associated with the journal they are considering and seek funding support if needed.

Embargo periods: Some publishers may require an embargo period before authors can self-archive their work or make it publicly available through other means. Authors should be aware of any embargo periods associated with the journal they are considering and decide whether it aligns with their goals for open access publishing.

Retraction and corrections: Authors should also understand the publisher's policies for retraction and corrections, in case there are any issues with the published work.

For more information about your rights as an author, check out this list of helpful resources compiled by SPARC*, or this useful guide.