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NIH Public Access Policy: Retain your copyright

The NIH Public Access Policy ensures that the public has access to the published results of NIH funded research.

Copyright transfer agreements

Authors own the original copyrights to materials they write. Consistent with individual arrangements with authors' employing institutions, authors often transfer some or all of these rights to the publisher when the journal agrees to publish their article. Some publishers may ask authors to transfer copyrights for a manuscript when it is first submitted to a journal for review.

Authors should work with the publisher before any rights are transferred to ensure that all conditions of the NIH Public Access Policy can be met. Authors should avoid signing any agreements with publishers that do not allow the author to comply with the NIH Public Access Policy.

When you submit your manuscript, tell the publisher that your article is subject to the NIH Public Access Policy.

To ensure that you retain your copyright, you may need to attach an addendum to the agreement you sign with the publisher. You may use the UI author's addendum, which has been approved by the University of Iowa Provost and General Counsel, the Big Ten Academic Alliance addendum, or  the NIH-provided example language.

For assistance with copyright, please contact UI General Counsel at 319-335-3696.