COLLOQUY

THE QUESTION

RESPONSES

BACKGROUND

Their policy is not our policy, but nevertheless it appears to be a rational choice. Prior to submittal to a journal, a paper is clearly the work of its authors, and they have complete copyright control. But in almost all cases, the editorial process introduces changes that make the work differ from its original form. These changes may be made directly by the editorial staff, or indirectly through requests to the author - in either case the publisher is investing its resources in an intellectual effort here, and it seems only reasonable it should have some right to the product of that effort - not necessarily full copyright, but it is up to author and publisher to agree on terms (if not the author can just take his or her work elsewhere).

Elsevier's policy is to let the author have essentially full rights to the form of the article prior to submission to the journal, and for the publisher to have full rights to the final form. As I said, we don't agree with this policy, but it seems quite clear and coherent, and far from deserving the epithets Harnad bestows.

-- Arthur Smith, R&D, The American Physical Society (posted 9/22, 11:35 p.m., E.D.T.)

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