Research Publications & Copyright Policy (2021) | The University of Edinburgh

This policy supersedes and updates the first University of Edinburgh Research Publications Policy passed by University Court in 2010.

Academic staff at the University of Edinburgh have traditionally, when publishing research outputs, exercised an independent right to assign or give away their scholarly works (in addition to the University’s right). This has enabled the current process of the corresponding author assigning copyright to publishers, which results in many journal articles and scholarly works now being under partial or complete ownership by the academic publishers.

In order for the University and its researchers to comply with funder requirements, and to enable the University to disseminate its research and scholarship as widely as possible, whilst enabling its staff to publish their work in a journal of their choice the University of Edinburgh will adopt the following mandatory policy which applies to all staff on research contracts :