By Claus Rosenkrantz Hansen and Mette Bechmann
When we talk about copyright in academic publishing, the focus is often on the written text. However, many research articles also contain non-textual elements – figures, tables, graphs, photos, or illustrations – which can be just as protected as the written word.
Your own elements
If you have created the element yourself, you generally hold the copyright. This means you decide where and how it can be used. In practice, however, many researchers transfer the rights to the element through an author agreement to the journal or publisher when their work is published. It is therefore important to examine the author agreement carefully: Do you retain your rights, or do you grant an exclusive license to the publisher? Some journals allow reuse of figures in teaching or presentations, while others require separate permission.
Elements created by others
If, in your own writing or dissemination, you wish to include material you did not create yourself – for example, a photo, a figure from another article, or an illustration from a book chapter – you need to make sure you have the right to use it. This may involve contacting the rights holder, purchasing a license, or using material under an open license such as Creative Commons. It is worth remembering that citing the source alone is not sufficient to bypass permission requirements.
Visualizations built on others’ data
One particular point of attention is data visualizations and tables. While the underlying data may not be protected by copyright, the selection, structure, and graphic presentation of those data often are. This means you are free to work with the same data but may not copy another researcher’s specific presentation without permission.
In short: Copyright in research publications is not just about words. It can be useful to reflect on how non-textual elements are used and shared – both those you create yourself and those you borrow from others. Reviewing your author agreements and considering your use of figures and images can help prevent problems.
And if in doubt, Claus Rosenkrantz Hansen at CBS Library is a valuable resource for guidance.