Directory of Open Access Journals, Copyright & Licensing help

"Our preference is that the author retains copyright, without restrictions, but DOAJ does also accept journals where copyright is transferred

DOAJ recommends that journals allow authors to retain the copyright of their papers, without restrictions. The authors can then grant the publisher non-exclusive publishing rights to publish the articles.

Sometimes, even though the author retains copyright, restrictions are imposed by the publisher:

• The publisher requires exclusive publishing rights. The author no longer holds the copyright without restrictions.
• The publisher requires a transfer of commercial rights or an exclusive grant of commercial rights. The author no longer retains copyright without restrictions...."