1. Did you retain copyright to the paper, granting only the right of first publication, when you submitted it to the publisher?

   • Yes - Your postprint can be submitted to the eScholarship Repository.
   • No - Read on to learn how to post papers without holding copyright.
   • I don't know - Most publishers require that copyright be transferred prior to publication. Some journals only require that you license your copyrighted paper to the publisher. To investigate publisher copyright transfer policies, visit the SHERPA website.

2. Did you amend your original copyright transfer agreement with the publisher to retain the right for additional, non-commercial distribution of your paper?

   • Yes - Your postprint can be submitted to the eScholarship Repository; please attach a scanned copy of the agreement to the postprints upload form, or fax a copy to us at 510-665-1201, so that we can verify your retained rights.
   • No - Read on to learn how to post papers without holding copyright.

3. If you transferred copyright to the publisher, does that publisher allow you to use the article as a postprint?

   • Yes - Does the publisher allow the published PDF version of the article to be used as a postprint?
     • Yes - Then your article can be submitted as a postprint in the original published format.
     • No - You will need to submit your final version reflecting the changes made by peer-review and editing, OR include a list of changes and corrections (also called the corrigenda); this version of your article can be submitted as a postprint.
   • No - Obtain written permission from the publisher in order to submit your article as a postprint. When you have written permission from the publisher, please attach a copy to the postprints upload form, or fax a copy to us at 510-665-1201, so that we can maintain a copy of your retained rights.
   • I don't know - Publisher policies can be confusing and may change without warning. A database of publisher policies as they relate to postprints is maintained at the SHERPA website. The publisher policies listed in the database are rated according to how liberal their policies are; be sure to read the "Conditions" section to learn about restrictions within the policy. The same database is searchable by journal title at Romeo's Self-Archiving Policy by Journal. If the policy is still unclear or if the publisher is not listed, you have the right to request permission to use your article directly from the publisher.

Further resources and readings:

• Reshaping Scholarly Communication (from UC's Office of Scholarly Communication) section on scholars' managing copyright
  http://osc.universityofcalifornia.edu/manage/
• The Copyright Management Center - Reserving Rights of Use in Works Submitted for Publication: Negotiating Publishing Agreements
  http://www.copyright.iupui.edu/nego_doc.htm
• Copyright Management for Scholarship: Agreements
  http://www.surf.nl/copyright/keyissues/scholarlycommunication/agreements.php
• Creative Commons
  http://creativecommons.org
• Electronic Publishing in Science - Seizing the Moment: Scientists' Authorship Rights in the Digital Age
  http://www.aaas.org/spp/sfrl/projects/epub/
• Publisher copyright policies and self-archiving (SHERPA)
  http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo.php
• Create Change: Supporting faculty and librarian action in scholarly communication
  http://www.createchange.org/home.html