Q. How is my scholarship copyrighted and protected in the repository?

Who has access to the content?
The institutional Repository is intended to be an open access repository. By open access, we mean that anyone with an internet connection will be able to access and download the files and documents it houses. However, some publisher policies prohibit the display of works on an open network. In some cases, works may only be downloaded by members of the DePauw community while on campus. 

How is my work protected?
Works uploaded in SCW still maintain their original copyright- regardless of if copyright is held by the author or the publisher. For works that are not under copyright agreement, a Creative Commons License of your choice can be assigned to your work.  If you are unfamiliar with Creative Commons Licensing, the repository administrator can help you choose a license that works best for your work. 

Why should I contribute research/scholarship/creative work?
The repository provides increased visibility and impact for your work, allowing barrier-free discovery by tools such as Google Scholar. It also provides long-term, stable preservation of your content, and gives you more control over access to your own work. By depositing your work, you help to demonstrate the scientific, social, and economic value of DePauw University to the local community and to scholars and researchers worldwide.

I already have my work available online via academia.edu/ResearchGate, why do I need to add it to the repository? 
As part of a network of over 300 institutions, the repository provides yet another access point for your work. The more ways readers can access your work, the higher your potential for citation impact. Also, in some cases, publishers will make allowance for including works in institutional repositories that are not allowed to share online otherwise. Consolidating works from across campus in the repository demonstrates the quality of our academic output and programs, and serves as a great advertisement for potential students, faculty candidates, or funding opportunities.  

What about copyright issues?
Authors retain the copyright for all content posted in the repository. The author agreement specifies a nonexclusive right to use, meaning the author is free to reuse the content elsewhere. If you have signed copyright over to a journal or other publisher, other steps may have to be taken to obtain permission to deposit a copy in the repository. See the SHERPA/RoMEO website for a list of publisher copyright and self-archiving policies. The repository administrator can work with you to verify copyright status and seek permission for previously published work. Publisher copyright policies are strictly followed.

Please consult the Scholarly and Creative Works Policies and Guidelines for additional information.