Readers
Use and share the article within the terms displayed on its record and PDF.
Access, copyright, and reuse
Open Access and Licensing
Access to an article and permission to reuse it are related but different. Each article record and PDF should state the applicable copyright holder, license, access terms, and any limits on reuse so readers and authors do not have to infer rights.
open access journal policy
1Article access2Licensing3Author rights4Third-party material
01
Read the License on the Work
A license determines how an article may be copied, shared, adapted, translated, or used commercially. The exact license and version matter, as do requirements for attribution, indication of changes, and treatment of third-party content.
Historical articles should not be retroactively assigned a new license unless the journal has the authority to do so. A freely downloadable PDF does not by itself establish broad reuse rights.
Key routes
Use the Journal With Confidence
Each route connects to the record or policy needed for the next decision.
Authors
Review copyright retention, publication license, self-archiving, and third-party permissions before agreement.
Permissions requests
Identify the material, intended use, format, audience, and distribution when the license does not already permit reuse.
Practical detail
Rights That Need Separate Attention
Figures, photographs, instruments, datasets, maps, and lengthy quotations may carry rights that differ from the article’s main license. Captions and credit lines should identify any separate terms.
Authors should retain copies of permissions and ensure that repository deposits or accepted-manuscript sharing follow the journal’s stated policy and any funder or institutional obligations.
- Check the license name and version on the article.
- Follow attribution and change-notice requirements.
- Confirm rights for third-party material separately.
- Keep author agreements and permissions records.
- Ask before reuse when the displayed terms do not answer the question.
Common questions
Questions Readers and Contributors Ask
Does open access mean copyright-free?
No. Open access can provide broad reading and reuse rights, but copyright and license conditions still apply.
Can every archived article receive the same new license?
Only when the rights holder and applicable agreements permit it. Historical access should not be confused with authority to relicense.
Where should license information appear?
It should be visible on the article page and in the downloadable version so the terms travel with the work.
Sources
Standards and Further Reading
These external resources provide additional policy or practice context. The journal’s own published policies govern its workflow.
Confirm Rights Before Reuse
Read the license on the specific article and contact the journal when third-party material or historical rights are unclear.