Copyright affects your rights as an author. Every work of art your create from a photograph to a research paper is automatically copyrighted by you. When you hold copyright to your work, you are empowered to make choices about how it is used. However, when you license your work or transfer your copyright, you allow others to use or control your work.
- You own what you create. As the author of a work you are automatically the copyright holder. Copyright registration is not required.
- You retain your copyright unless you transfer the copyright to someone else in a signed agreement, such as a journal publisher.
- The copyright holder controls the work.
- Giving your copyright to a publisher could hinder your future uses of your work.