petersuber

#Texas universities negotiated lower prices from #Elsevier. Plus this interesting pilot project:

"TLCUA [Texas Library Coalition for United Action] & Elsevier…agreed to…a pilot project to revert ownership of journal articles back to original authors —& not just those at TLCUA-member institutions. Currently, authors transfer #copyright of their work in exchange for…being published. This pilot will provide for rights to go back to authors after a period of time."
https://tlcua.org/news/2022/11/30/texas-universities-reach-historic-deal-with-elsevier/

Texas Library Coalition for United Action

Nov 30, 2022 at 8:54pmWeb
Show threadWesley CornettNov 30, 2022

@petersuber How do you think the copyright pilot project relates to the trends in #RightsRetention?

Is the pilot project in direct competition with rights retention policies?

Is it an attempt by #Elsevier to carve out an alternative path on copyright where they concede to some degree of rights retention while preserving a great deal of copyright control? If so, do people have thoughts on how defining "a period of time" could impact the significance of the concession to authors?

Show threadkdnyhanDec 1, 2022
@petersuber Having recently helped (well, tried unsuccessfully to help) a library user get permission to reuse an old survey instrument, I am wondering whether the transfer of copyright back to authors (who aren't expecting it) might actually make it more difficult for third parties to reuse the works?
Show threadkdnyhanDec 1, 2022
@petersuber At least when the publisher has the copyright, there's a pathway to getting permission. It might be an expensive pathway, but it's clear. But if re-users now need to track down the author (all the authors? I have no idea if one co-author can give permission) or even their estates for permission, what happens?
Show threadpetersuberDec 1, 2022
@kdnyhan It could. #RightsRetention by authors — and #RightsReversion to authors — are most beneficial when authors exercise the rights to put works under #OpenLicenses (like CC-BY).
Show threadkdnyhanDec 1, 2022
@petersuber Maybe they will distribute an info packet that makes it an easy decision *and* an easy action for the authors to take their reverted copyright and assign a CC-BY license.
Oooh, maybe this is a chance to test various messages/interventions and see what works best to persuade authors?