Publication in a scientific journal/(parts of) book/etc.

Before choosing a license, you must identify the type of document you are attaching:

• Postprint editor
• Postprint author
• Author Preprint

See our definitions here as well as the description of the different licenses available on ORBi.

In any case, you need to download one of the versions.

If you have published in open access, you can attach the postprint version of the open access editor.

Alternatively, you can attach the postprint editor version but with restricted access. In this case, you must also attach either the author postprint or the author preprint depending on the publisher/journal's terms.

Assign the correct license

- Check the conditions on the publisher/journal's website

OR

- Use SHERPA/RoMEO to check publishers' licensing policies

SHERPA/RoMEO is a valuable resource for checking the open access policies of different publishers. This tool can help you identify if and under what conditions you can publish your work in open access, such as license type, embargo periods, and more.

How to use SHERPA/RoMEO:

1. Visit the SHERPA/RoMEO website
2. Search for your newspaper or publisher: Enter the name of the newspaper or publisher you are considering.
3. Review the policies: Look at the information provided on the open access options, including:

• • Pre-print policies: Conditions under which you can share your manuscript before peer review.
  • Post-print policies: Terms for sharing the version of your manuscript after peer review.
  • Embargo periods: Waiting periods before making your work freely available.
  • License options: Accepted Creative Commons licenses and any restrictions.

PLEASE NOTE: not all publishers or newspapers are listed on SHERPA/RoMEO. You may need to check the terms yourself on the newspaper/publisher's website.

If no conditions are specified, follow the instructions below (Other documents (poster/thesis/course/etc.)).

Other documents (poster/thesis/course/etc.)

If your paper is not subject to any restrictions (scientific congress policy, etc.), you must choose a license on your own.

Consider the following questions to help you choose the right license:

• Do you want to allow commercial use of your work?

○ If yes, avoid licenses with the NonCommercial (NC) condition.

• Do you want to allow changes to your work?

○ If not, choose a NoDerivs (ND) license.

• Do you want to force others to share derivative works under the same license?

○ If yes, choose a ShareAlike (SA) license.

UMONS recommends CC-BY or CC-BY-SA licenses. The former ensures the maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials, while the latter also ensures that derivative works remain open.

Additional Resources

• Creative Commons website: Offers detailed explanations and a license selection tool to help you select the appropriate license.
• OAD Open Access Directory: A comprehensive list of resources and information on open access.
• SPARC Author Addendum: A tool to help you retain the rights to your work upon publication.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Creative Commons license ensures that your work is shared in conditions that you are comfortable with while maximizing its reach and impact. Use resources like SHERPA/RoMEO to understand publishers' policies and make informed decisions about open access publishing.

For further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the library or the legal department of UMONS.