Am I able to negotiate with publishers regarding the copyright over my research?
Yes, where necessary. You can negotiate to retain your rights as publishers do not require all rights to publish your work. Many publishers let authors retain copyright, but ask for an exclusive license for a specific period (e.g. 12 months).
You can negotiate to retain certain rights by:
- amending the terms in your agreement by crossing out, adding, or rewriting sections – or attaching the Canadian Author Addendum to your agreement, providing legal language for the retention of your rights. (See the CARL Guide to using the Canadian Author Addendum.)
- specifically mentioning any policies or mandates that require certain rights,
- communicating your rationale clearly,
- being positive, clear and persuasive.