Copyright
The ETD process provides you a unique opportunity to learn more about electronic publishing and there are important copyright issues to keep in mind. The skills acquired in doing an ETD will serve you well as you continue to produce works of scholarship, more so if you choose to remain in higher education. We encourage you to start learning about copyright and publishing issues in the process of preparing/submitting your ETD.
When is Copyright Permission Required?
Securing Permission from Copyright Holders
Cite Your Sources
What if Permission is Denied or Unavailable?
Quick Copyright Links
When is Copyright Permission Required?
Does your thesis contain someone else’s work (third party materials)? For example, text, figures, maps, images, questionnaires, photos, etc.
- Does your thesis contain your own previously published materials (e.g. journal article)?
- Does your thesis include material (e.g. a chapter, an article) that was co-written with another author(s)?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then you must obtain written permission to reproduce the material from the copyright owner (e.g. journal publisher and/or co-authors).
Securing Permission from Copyright Holders
Securing copyright permission may take time and we recommend seeking any needed permissions early in the thesis preparation process. Some publishers provide (on their website or in the material given to you when your article was accepted) a policy statement granting permission to publish your work in a thesis. The Sherpa Romeo website may be helpful to you in determining publishers’ polices. You may also be able to secure permission through Rightslink. If you need to request permission, we suggest that you refer to, or use, the wording of the copyright Permission request sample text below. An original, signed letter on the copyright holder’s letterhead is your best protection against accusations of copyright violation, but email proof of permission from publishers or co-authors is acceptable. Keep copies of all documents for your own records.
Copyright Permission Request - Sample Text
Date:
Re: Permission to Use Copyrighted Material in a Doctoral/Master’s Thesis
Dear:
I am a University of Toronto graduate student completing my Doctoral / Master’s thesis entitled “____***_____”.
My thesis will be available in full-text on the internet for reference, study and / or copy. Except in situations where a thesis is under embargo or restriction, the electronic version will be accessible through the U of T Libraries web pages, the Library’s web catalogue, and also through web search engines.I will also be granting Library and Archives Canada and ProQuest/UMI a non-exclusive license to reproduce, loan, distribute, or sell single copies of my thesis by any means and in any form or format. These rights will in no way restrict republication of the material in any other form by you or by others authorized by you.
I would like permission to allow inclusion of the following material in my thesis: [insert copy or detailed explanation including the title of the article or book, the figure or page numbers of the material used, the journal name, year, volume number or unique publication identifier, the publisher and year] The material will be attributed through a citation.
Please confirm in writing or by email that these arrangements meet with your approval.
Sincerely
Your Name and Signature
Cite Your Sources
Any copyrighted material used in your thesis, including photos, pictures, charts, graphs, maps, etc. must receive full citation. Each citation must include the copyright symbol, name of the copyright holder (who may or may not be the author) and a statement that the use or adaptation (in the case of adapted graphics) is by permission of the copyright holder.
What if Permission Denied or Unavailable?
Occasionally, permission to use copyrighted material cannot be secured, or is denied. Do not reproduce copyrighted material in your thesis without permission. Remove the copyrighted material. You will proceed differently according to the nature of the material.In the case of animage of an artifact or artwork, for example, you may include a description of what is missing, a full citation of the source of the material and where it can be found. Include an explanation that the material has been removed because of copyright restrictions. In the case of a thesis chapter that was previously published as a journal article, you should include in place of the chapter an abstract of the chapter content and a link to the journal website where the original article can be read.
Here’s is an example: article copyright solution example
Quick Copyright Links
Copyright Policy of the University of Toronto
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
Databases where you can look up the policies of academic journals on the use of your published papers in a thesis:
Sherpa Romeo
Rightslink