Copyright Crash Course

READ THE CONTRACT.

I know reading contracts is no one's idea of a good time, but it's really important. It takes awhile, yes, but this is a legally enforceable bunch of words that are supposed to document your deal with the publisher. And, there may be things in that contract that surprise or upset you.

Here are some things you could consider as you review your contract (not an exhaustive list):

• Does the contract faithfully represent what you've been told?
• Can you describe the contract terms in plain language? If not, ask for clarification.
• What happens if they fail to publish within a year or so?
• Do you have the right to publicly archive your final refereed version or the final published version?
• If it's a book, do the rights revert to you when the book goes out of print?
• Do they consider posting your early drafts on a website to be prior publication?
• Does anything bother you? If yes, say so.

I know some people worry that if they object to terms in the contract, the publisher will reject the paper, but that's just not the case. The publisher might not capitulate to every demand, but reject the paper - NO.

More than likely, if you get beyond that myth, you still won't want to bother with the contract because it's not clear that the cost of just signing is high enough to warrant taking the time and effort to read it and deal with it. And that was probably a safe calculus 30 years ago, but it isn't anymore. Go on, at least read the thing. At least do that. There can be things in there that you really will regret later on. 

Ok, so you've found something you want to change: change it

It's that easy. You just cross out what's there and write what you want instead. You can use the margins if you're reviewing an analog copy, or you can "redline" the document if your are reviewing a copy you can word-process. If it's a locked digital copy (like a locked pdf), just print out a copy and mark on it, digitize your markup and send it back in email. If you encounter a click through license, which is quite common now, email the editor and explain your concerns.

So, what do you put in the contract instead? Just say what you want. Plain language is just as good as legalese. Go ahead, try it. I am confident you'll be pleasantly surprised. I have never had a negotiation disappoint me yet and I *always* negotiate. And I'm prepared to walk away over some things, but I've never had to. Publishers only seem unreasonable on the surface of their contracts (lawyers...). They're really not that bad. At least give it a try.

Maybe you can get some help

Many universities give faculty members help with publishing contracts because the rights that faculty preserve through negotiation, for themselves and sometimes for the institution, benefit the public generally, as explained in managing your copyrights. So check around and see if there is an office on your campus that will help you get a handle on this important job. If not, ask why not? Again, be brave. Let people know what you want.