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Basic Formal IVT Commonly tested

Copyright and Licensing Assignment

noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkɒpiraɪt ənd ˈlaɪsənɪŋ əˈsaɪnmənt/

The editorial process of documenting and managing the transfer of intellectual property rights from authors to the publisher or journal according to agreed-upon licensing terms. This includes recording open-access licenses, copyright retention agreements, and usage rights.

Plain English

Processing the paperwork that determines who owns the published article and how it can be used.

Etymology & History

Origin languageOld English, Old French
Rootcopy (reproduction) + right (law); license (permission from licentia)
First recorded use1980s
Usage frequencyCommon

Usage

"Copyright and licensing assignment clarified that authors retained rights under the Creative Commons BY license."

Style guide notes: Always capitalize 'Copyright' when referring to the legal right; use lowercase 'copyright' as adjective.

Also known as

rights management licensing documentation IP assignment

Contrasted with

copyright retention author ownership

Related Terms

Frequently Asked Questions

What license options do journals typically offer?

Common options include traditional copyright transfer, CC-BY, CC-BY-NC, and author-retained open access.

When is licensing assignment completed?

Typically at acceptance stage before proofs preparation and publication.

Why Test Candidates on This?

Essential for understanding publication agreements, open-access policy, and legal publishing procedures.

Required skill level: Senior

Editors from these organisations have used our services since 1998

Reuters BBC Oxford University Press Penguin Random House Springer Microsoft Suncor Energy United Nations Fisher Investments IBM The Home Depot KODAK CHEVRON