Copyright for Authors and Creators: Home

NYU Libraries supports the university's research, teaching, and service mission by providing guidance for faculty, students, and staff on how copyright relates to the creation, use, and sharing of knowledge.

If you are from outside NYU and wish to clear permissions to material created by NYU, please see the NYU Permissions page. 

April Hathcock, Director of Scholarly Communications and Information Policy, april.hathcock@nyu.edu

If you are the author of an original, creative work,

         such as an article, a photograph, a website, or a novel . . .

then, you are a copyright owner.

         Congratulations!

What does this mean?

Image Credit: Jean-Bernard Restout, Le Poète inspiré (MBA Dijon)

It means that, under the law, you have rights to control:

• where your work is published,
• who has access, and
• whether and how it can be re-used.

For more on the rights of authors under copyright law, see Author Rights.

Effectively managing your rights as a copyright owner can help you to maximize the impact of your research and scholarship.

Keep in mind that copyright only covers "original works of authorship." Ideas and facts are not covered by copyright law unless or until you express them in an original way.

For more on copyright coverage, see Copyright Basics.

The information presented here is intended for informational purposes and should not be construed as legal advice. If you have specific legal questions pertaining to NYU, please contact NYU Office of General Counsel.