Copyright and Licensing
Insights in Biology and Medicine operates under a progressive copyright and licensing framework designed to maximize the dissemination and impact of published research while protecting author rights and ensuring proper attribution. All articles are published open access under Creative Commons licenses that facilitate broad reuse and adaptation.
Copyright Policy
Author Copyright Retention
Unlike traditional publishing models, Insights in Biology and Medicine allows authors to retain copyright of their work. Our copyright policy includes:
Journal License
In exchange for publication services, authors grant the journal:
- Non-exclusive right to publish the work
- Authority to enforce the chosen Creative Commons license
- Permission to migrate the work to new formats for preservation
- Right to include the work in collections and databases
Creative Commons Licensing
CC BY 4.0 License
All articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license unless otherwise specified for specific content types.
Allowed Uses
- Share and copy the material
- Adapt and build upon the work
- Use for commercial purposes
- Text and data mining
- Translation into other languages
- Inclusion in course packs
Requirements
- Provide appropriate attribution
- Indicate if changes were made
- Link to the CC BY license
- Do not suggest endorsement
- Maintain the integrity of the work
License Exceptions
Certain content may require different licensing approaches:
| Content Type | License | Rationale | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-Party Material | As specified by copyright holder | Respect original copyright | Figures, tables from other publications |
| Software Code | Open source license (e.g., MIT, GPL) | Software distribution requirements | Analysis scripts, algorithms |
| Datasets | CC0 or domain-specific license | Maximize data reuse | Genomic data, clinical datasets |
| Multimedia Content | CC BY or as specified | Format-specific considerations | Videos, 3D models, audio files |
Publication Agreement
Author Agreement Process
Authors confirm they have the right to publish the work and that all necessary permissions have been obtained for third-party content.
Upon manuscript acceptance, authors complete the publication agreement specifying the CC BY license and copyright terms.
Authors verify that all co-authors have approved the agreement and that institutional approvals have been obtained where required.
The work is published with clear licensing information and copyright notices as specified in the agreement.
Author Responsibilities
Copyright Assurance
Authors are responsible for ensuring:
Original Work
- The manuscript represents original research
- All co-authors meet authorship criteria
- Work has not been previously published in current form
- No copyright infringement exists
Third-Party Content
- Proper permissions obtained for reused material
- Appropriate attribution provided
- License compatibility maintained
- Documentation of permissions retained
Reader and Reuser Rights
Special Licensing Considerations
Government and Crown Copyright
Works created by government employees may have special copyright status:
- U.S. Federal Government: Works are typically in the public domain
- UK Crown Copyright: Specific licensing under Open Government License
- Other Jurisdictions: Varies by country - authors should declare status
Institutional Repository Deposits
Authors may deposit their work in institutional repositories:
- Accepted Manuscript: May be deposited immediately upon acceptance
- Published Version: May be deposited immediately upon publication
- No Embargo: No restrictions on when or where to deposit
- License Maintenance: Must include proper CC BY attribution
Copyright Infringement and Enforcement
Infringement Reporting
The journal takes copyright infringement seriously and will:
- Investigate credible reports of infringement
- Take appropriate action against infringing parties
- Support authors in protecting their rights
- Cooperate with legal authorities when necessary
To report suspected infringement, contact: [email protected]
Plagiarism Detection
We employ multiple systems to protect against copyright violation:
| System | Purpose | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| iThenticate | Manuscript similarity checking | Cross-check against published literature |
| Crossref Similarity Check | Duplicate publication detection | Database of published scholarly content |
| Manual Review | Expert assessment of problematic cases | Case-by-case evaluation |
License Compatibility
Third-Party Material Integration
When incorporating third-party content, authors must ensure license compatibility:
Compatible Licenses
- CC BY (any version)
- CC0 (public domain dedication)
- Public domain works
- Other permissive licenses
Requiring Permission
- All rights reserved content
- Non-commercial licenses (CC BY-NC)
- Share-alike licenses (CC BY-SA)
- Incompatible open licenses
Long-Term Preservation and Access
Digital Preservation
To ensure permanent access, the journal participates in:
- Portico: Centralized digital preservation service
These preservation systems maintain the work under the original CC BY license, ensuring continued access even if the journal ceases publication.
Funder Compliance
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use figures from my published article in a conference presentation?
Yes, the CC BY license allows you to reuse your own work in any context, including conference presentations, teaching materials, and future publications. Proper attribution to the original publication is required.
Does the journal allow text and data mining of published content?
Yes, the CC BY license explicitly permits text and data mining for any purpose. We also provide machine-readable metadata and support automated access through our API.
Can my institution include my article in their repository?
Yes, authors are encouraged to deposit the published version in their institutional repository immediately upon publication. No embargo period applies.
What if I need to use a different license for my work?
While we standardize on CC BY for consistency and compatibility, exceptions may be considered for valid reasons. Contact the editorial office to discuss alternative licensing options.
How do I properly attribute content from your journal?
Proper attribution should include: Author(s), Article Title, Journal Name, Volume, Issue, Page Numbers, DOI, and a link to the CC BY license. For example: "Smith et al. (2023). Advances in Cancer Biology. Insights in Biology and Medicine, 15(2), 123-145. https://doi.org/10.12345/ibm.2023.123. Licensed under CC BY 4.0."
Policy Updates and Version Control
Version History
This copyright and licensing policy is regularly reviewed and updated:
| Version | Effective Date | Key Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 3.0 | October 2023 | Clarified third-party content requirements, enhanced funder compliance information |
| 2.1 | March 2022 | Updated to CC BY 4.0 as standard license |
| 2.0 | January 2020 | Transition to full open access with author copyright retention |
| 1.0 | June 2015 | Initial copyright policy with hybrid publishing model |
Contact Information: For questions about copyright, licensing, or permissions, please contact:
Copyright Officer: [email protected]
General Inquiries: [email protected]
Legal Matters: [email protected]
Note: This policy is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Authors and users should consult with legal counsel for specific copyright questions.