The changing copyright landscape in academic publishing

Abstract

Key points This article marks the publication of the Tenth edition Clark's Publishing Agreements: A book of precedents. The growing complexity of traditional assignment agreements is accompanied by researchers’ misunderstanding about their rights. There is a shifting balance between assignment and licensing of rights in an author's work. Academics continue to agree standard assignment contracts even where they disagree with the principles. Publishers are loosening control over copyright in response to demands from funders and a growing minority of researchers. There is a complex range of researchers’ attitudes to copyright issues.