Copyright transfer
BloodPublisher
ASH / Elsevier
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
Reference notes
Coverage
56 journals
Sources
Publisher author agreements + SHERPA/RoMEO
Last reviewed
February 2026
Prepared by the Manusights editorial team.
Rights-and-licensing guide
Author Rights and Copyright in Biomedical Publishing
When you publish in a journal, something happens to your copyright, and most researchers don't read the fine print closely enough to know exactly what. The answer depends entirely on which journal you publish in, whether you pay an APC, and what license agreement you sign at acceptance.
This guide explains what copyright transfer and exclusive licensing mean in practice, what you can still do with your work after signing either, and how open-access licenses differ from traditional arrangements.
Quick orientation
Use this page when the journal is already chosen and the next question is what rights you will still control after publication.
This guide is for the contract stage of publishing: copyright transfer, exclusive licenses, accepted-manuscript posting, embargoes, and what open-access licenses really permit. It is most useful before you sign, not after.
56 journalsRights-model comparisonEmbargo and self-archive notesBest for contract-stage planning
Best used with
Open access guide
Use it when rights questions are tied to APCs, mandates, or OA route selection.
Preprint guide
Move there when the real question is what can be shared before submission rather than after acceptance.
Data sharing requirements
Pair manuscript-rights planning with repository and data-availability obligations.
In this guide
The five rights questions most authors actually need answered
Start with the rights model, then move immediately to what you can still do in practice. Most confusion comes from assuming the contract label and the real-world sharing rights are the same thing.
Rights models
Copyright transfer, exclusive license, and open-access licensing in plain terms.
What you keep
The teaching, repository, thesis, and sharing rights authors usually retain.
CC licenses
Which Creative Commons terms actually change reuse rights after publication.
Journal dataset
Publisher-by-publisher embargo and self-archiving rules for the journals most often compared.
SPARC addendum
What to do when the standard contract is narrower than your institution wants.
Three Arrangements You'll Encounter
Traditional / subscription journals
Copyright transfer
You sign over copyright to the publisher. They own the paper. You retain limited rights: typically the right to share a preprint, use the work in teaching, post to an institutional repository after an embargo, and include it in your thesis. JAMA, NEJM, AAAS, and some Elsevier journals use this model.
Common at Springer Nature / Cell Press
Exclusive license to publish
You keep copyright but grant the publisher an exclusive license to publish and distribute the work. The practical effect is similar to copyright transfer: the publisher controls distribution. Springer Nature journals (Nature, Nature Medicine) and most Cell Press journals use this model.
Open access journals
Creative Commons license (open access)
You keep copyright and publish under a CC license: usually CC BY 4.0, which lets anyone use, share, and adapt the work as long as they credit you. PLOS, eLife, BioMed Central, Nature Communications, Frontiers, and most fully OA journals use this.
What You Can Still Do After Copyright Transfer
Even after transferring copyright to a publisher, most author agreements retain a set of standard author rights. These are usually in the agreement itself, but authors rarely read them. Here's what's typically retained:
✓
Post a preprint
You can post a preprint version (the submitted manuscript, before peer review) on bioRxiv, medRxiv, or your personal website. This is separate from the published version and was created before copyright transfer.
✓
Use in teaching and presentations
You can use your own figures, tables, and text in lectures, conference presentations, and educational materials without requesting permission from the publisher.
✓
Post the accepted manuscript to an institutional repository
Most publishers allow posting of the accepted manuscript (post-peer-review, pre-copyediting version) to your institutional repository, typically after a 6–12 month embargo.
✓
Include in your thesis or dissertation
You can include the published paper in your PhD thesis or dissertation. Most agreements explicitly allow this.
✓
Share with colleagues directly
You can email a copy to colleagues who request it for their own research. This personal use right is standard in most publisher agreements.
✓
Deposit in PubMed Central (NIH-funded work)
If your research was NIH-funded, you're required to deposit the accepted manuscript in PMC within 12 months of publication: publishers can't override this under the NIH public access policy.
Creative Commons Licenses Explained
CC BY 4.0(Attribution)
Anyone can use, share, remix, and build on the work, including commercially, as long as they credit you. The most permissive and most common OA license. Used by PLOS, eLife, Nature Communications, BioMed Central, Frontiers.
Funder note: Required by NIH (for OA compliance), Wellcome Trust, UKRI, Gates Foundation
CC BY-NC 4.0(Attribution: Non-Commercial)
Use, share, and remix allowed for non-commercial purposes only. Commercial reuse requires separate permission. Some journals offer this as an alternative to CC BY.
Funder note: Not acceptable for Wellcome, UKRI, or Gates Foundation mandates, which require CC BY. NIH public access (PMC deposit) does not specify a license and is compatible with CC BY-NC.
CC BY-ND 4.0(Attribution: No Derivatives)
Can be shared with attribution but can't be modified or built upon. Rarely used in biomedical research because it limits reuse in meta-analyses and systematic reviews.
Funder note: Not acceptable for most funder OA mandates
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0(Attribution: Non-Commercial: No Derivatives)
The most restrictive CC license: share only, no modification, no commercial use. Occasionally offered by hybrid journals for lower APC tiers.
Funder note: Not acceptable for NIH, Wellcome, UKRI, or Gates mandates
Author rights by journal
Search rights models, embargoes, and self-archiving rules across the journals biomedical researchers compare most often. Export the current view or copy rows into a lab or library copyright guide.
56 of 56 rows
Visible journals
56
Publishers
24
No-embargo options
13
Quick filters
Rights model
Export
OA / author retains
BMC MedicinePublisher
BioMed Central
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
OA / author retains
BMJ OpenPublisher
BMJ Publishing
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate
Embargo
None
Exclusive license
BrainPublisher
Oxford University Press
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Cancer CellPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
CellPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Cell Host & MicrobePublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Cell MetabolismPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
Cell ReportsPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate (fully open access)
Embargo
None
Exclusive license
Cell Stem CellPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
CirculationPublisher
AHA / Wolters Kluwer
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
Circulation ResearchPublisher
AHA / Wolters Kluwer
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Current BiologyPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Developmental CellPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
eLifePublisher
eLife Sciences
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Exclusive license
European Heart JournalPublisher
Oxford University Press / ESC
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
Frontiers in ImmunologyPublisher
Frontiers Media
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Copyright transfer
GastroenterologyPublisher
AGA / Elsevier
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
Genome BiologyPublisher
BioMed Central
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Copyright transfer
GUTPublisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved / CC BY for OA option
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Copyright transfer
HepatologyPublisher
AASLD / Wiley
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
ImmunityPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
JACCPublisher
Elsevier / ACC
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
JAMAPublisher
AMA
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
JAMA CardiologyPublisher
AMA / JAMA Network
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
JAMA OncologyPublisher
AMA / JAMA Network
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
Copyright transfer
Journal of Clinical InvestigationPublisher
American Society for Clinical Investigation
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
PMC after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Copyright transfer
Journal of NeurosciencePublisher
Society for Neuroscience
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months (PMC)
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
LancetPublisher
Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Lancet Infectious DiseasesPublisher
Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Lancet NeurologyPublisher
Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Lancet OncologyPublisher
Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Molecular CellPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
Exclusive license
Molecular PsychiatryPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
NaturePublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature BiotechnologyPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature Chemical BiologyPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
OA / author retains
Nature CommunicationsPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Exclusive license
Nature GeneticsPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature ImmunologyPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature MedicinePublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature MethodsPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature NeurosciencePublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
Nature Structural & Molecular BiologyPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Copyright transfer
NEJMPublisher
Mass Medical Society
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months (PMC)
Embargo
6 months
Exclusive license
NeuronPublisher
Cell Press / Elsevier
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
Nucleic Acids ResearchPublisher
Oxford University Press
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate (fully open access)
Embargo
None
OA / author retains
PLOS MedicinePublisher
PLOS
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
OA / author retains
PLOS ONEPublisher
PLOS
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Copyright transfer
PNASPublisher
National Academy of Sciences
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved (non-OA) / CC BY (OA)
Self-archive rights
PMC after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
Copyright transfer
SciencePublisher
AAAS
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
Science AdvancesPublisher
AAAS
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY-NC or CC BY (funder-dependent)
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Copyright transfer
Science Translational MedicinePublisher
AAAS
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript after 12 months (PMC)
Embargo
12 months
OA / author retains
Scientific ReportsPublisher
Springer Nature
Rights model
OA / author retains
License
CC BY 4.0
Self-archive rights
Immediate: fully open access
Embargo
None
Copyright transfer
The BMJPublisher
BMJ Publishing
Rights model
Copyright transfer
License
All rights reserved / CC BY for OA
Self-archive rights
Accepted manuscript immediately on institutional site
Embargo
None for institutional repo
Exclusive license
The EMBO JournalPublisher
EMBO Press / Wiley
Rights model
Exclusive license
License
All rights reserved
Self-archive rights
Author manuscript after 6 months
Embargo
6 months
| Journal | Rights model |
|---|---|
| Blood | Copyright transfer |
| BMC Medicine | OA / author retains |
| BMJ Open | OA / author retains |
| Brain | Exclusive license |
| Cancer Cell | Exclusive license |
| Cell | Exclusive license |
| Cell Host & Microbe | Exclusive license |
| Cell Metabolism | Exclusive license |
| Cell Reports | OA / author retains |
| Cell Stem Cell | Exclusive license |
| Circulation | Copyright transfer |
| Circulation Research | Copyright transfer |
| Current Biology | Exclusive license |
| Developmental Cell | Exclusive license |
| eLife | OA / author retains |
| European Heart Journal | Exclusive license |
| Frontiers in Immunology | OA / author retains |
| Gastroenterology | Copyright transfer |
| Genome Biology | OA / author retains |
| GUT | Copyright transfer |
| Hepatology | Copyright transfer |
| Immunity | Exclusive license |
| JACC | Copyright transfer |
| JAMA | Copyright transfer |
| JAMA Cardiology | Copyright transfer |
| JAMA Oncology | Copyright transfer |
| Journal of Clinical Investigation | Copyright transfer |
| Journal of Neuroscience | Copyright transfer |
| Lancet | Exclusive license |
| Lancet Infectious Diseases | Exclusive license |
| Lancet Neurology | Exclusive license |
| Lancet Oncology | Exclusive license |
| Molecular Cell | Exclusive license |
| Molecular Psychiatry | Exclusive license |
| Nature | Exclusive license |
| Nature Biotechnology | Exclusive license |
| Nature Chemical Biology | Exclusive license |
| Nature Communications | OA / author retains |
| Nature Genetics | Exclusive license |
| Nature Immunology | Exclusive license |
| Nature Medicine | Exclusive license |
| Nature Methods | Exclusive license |
| Nature Neuroscience | Exclusive license |
| Nature Structural & Molecular Biology | Exclusive license |
| NEJM | Copyright transfer |
| Neuron | Exclusive license |
| Nucleic Acids Research | OA / author retains |
| PLOS Medicine | OA / author retains |
| PLOS ONE | OA / author retains |
| PNAS | Copyright transfer |
| Science | Copyright transfer |
| Science Advances | OA / author retains |
| Science Translational Medicine | Copyright transfer |
| Scientific Reports | OA / author retains |
| The BMJ | Copyright transfer |
| The EMBO Journal | Exclusive license |
For authoritative, up-to-date self-archiving policies, use SHERPA/RoMEO as the publisher-policy source of truth.
The SPARC Author Addendum
If you're publishing in a subscription journal and want to retain more rights than the standard agreement provides, the SPARC (Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition) Author Addendum is a legal instrument you can attach to a publisher's copyright agreement.
The addendum modifies the standard agreement to let you retain the right to use the work in future publications, post the final published version to your institutional repository, and preserve your rights if the publisher is acquired or the journal ceases publication.
Publishers aren't required to accept the addendum, but many do. Your institution's scholarly communication librarian can advise on whether to use it and how to negotiate with a specific publisher.
Practical note
Three rights assumptions that regularly cause trouble
Assuming the final PDF can be posted anywhere just because the author wrote the paper.
Treating accepted-manuscript posting rights as identical across publishers when embargo rules vary substantially.
Signing the standard agreement before checking whether the funder, institution, or library expects broader retained rights.
References
- SHERPA/RoMEO. (2026). Publisher copyright policies and self-archiving database. Jisc. Retrieved February 2026. [sherpa.ac.uk/romeo ↗]
- SPARC. (2006). Author Rights: Using the SPARC Author Addendum to secure your rights as the author of a journal article. Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition. [sparcopen.org ↗]
- Creative Commons. (2013). About the Licenses. Retrieved February 2026. [creativecommons.org ↗]
- National Institutes of Health. (2023). NIH Public Access Policy. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [publicaccess.nih.gov ↗]
- Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). (2017). COPE Discussion Document: Ownership of articles. Retrieved February 2026. [publicationethics.org ↗]
- Suber, P. (2012). Open Access. MIT Press. (Open access edition available.) [mitpress.mit.edu ↗]
Data note: Rights information is based on publisher agreements as of February 2026. Publisher policies and copyright arrangements change, particularly as funder OA mandates evolve. Always review the specific author agreement at acceptance. SHERPA/RoMEO is the authoritative reference for up-to-date self-archiving policies. These pages are permanently maintained. For accuracy corrections or updates, contact hello@manusights.com.
Ready to apply this to a real draft?
Move from reference guidance to a manuscript-specific check
Use the public submission-readiness path when you already have a manuscript and need a draft-specific signal, not just a general guide.
Best for researchers who want a fast readiness read before deciding whether to revise, retarget, or submit.
Related guides in this collection
Open Access Guide
Use this when the rights question turns into an APC or mandate decision.
Data Sharing Requirements
Pair copyright and licensing decisions with repository and data-availability planning.
Preprint Guide
Use this when the main rights question is what can be shared before journal submission.
Reference Library
Return to the broader publishing reference library for timelines, checklists, and compliance guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rights do I keep after signing a copyright transfer agreement?
Even after a full copyright transfer, most publishers grant authors retained rights by default: use in teaching and lectures, inclusion in a thesis or dissertation, posting the accepted manuscript (not the final PDF) on a personal or institutional website after any embargo period, and sharing with colleagues for personal use. Subscription journals typically require a 6-12 month embargo before self-archiving the accepted manuscript. Open access journals licensed under CC BY retain all rights with the author and allow immediate reuse by anyone.
Can I post my published paper on my lab website or ResearchGate?
It depends on the journal and which version you want to post. For most subscription journals, you can post the accepted manuscript (the peer-reviewed version before publisher formatting) on your personal or institutional website after the embargo period (usually 6-12 months). Posting the final publisher PDF is typically not allowed without an open access license. ResearchGate and Academia.edu exist in a gray zone: many publishers tolerate it but it is technically a violation for subscription content without permission. For open access papers with CC BY licenses, any version can be posted anywhere immediately.
What is a SPARC Author Addendum and should I use it?
The SPARC Author Addendum is a legal document you attach to a publisher's copyright transfer agreement to retain specific rights - typically the right to self-archive the accepted manuscript immediately (no embargo), use the work in future research and teaching, and grant others non-commercial reuse rights. Not all publishers accept it, but many will negotiate. It's most useful when publishing in subscription journals where default retained rights are narrow. For NIH-funded research, the 2025 Public Access Policy mandates immediate public access, which effectively supersedes the need for an addendum at compliant journals.