Permissions Information for Journal Authors
The guidelines below provide basic guidance on the topics of fair use, permissions, and licenses.
General Information
Authors are responsible for determining how to cover copyright for any third-party/non-original material included in their work, such as images and textual quotations. As a strong supporter of fair use, Duke University Press encourages authors to assert fair use whenever possible, and to consider it before reaching out to rights holders for permission. Authors should also investigate whether the material they want to reproduce is in the public domain.
The guidelines below provide basic guidance on these topics. Authors should contact their journal’s editorial office with specific questions and issues, and do so as early as possible.
- Fair Use - Basic information and Duke University Press standards relating to fair use.
- Permissions & Licenses - What Duke University Press requires, problematic terms/restrictions, permissions for cover art, and documentation standards.
- Other Permissions Information - Public domain, Creative Commons licenses, and due diligence.
Forms and Permissions Documents
- Permissions Log (XLSX) - An Excel file for organizing your permissions documentation and information.
- Permissions Form Letter (PDF) - Our standard form letter for requesting permission. For when your use is not covered by fair use or the material is not in the public domain.
- Cover Art Permissions Form Letter (PDF) - Our standard form letter for requesting permission for cover art use.
Additional Resources
- Association of University Presses Permissions FAQ
- Association of University Presses Permissions Resources
- What is Copyright? via the US Copyright Office
- Cornell Libraries’ Chart of Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States
- WATCH (Writers Artists and Their Copyright Holders) and FOB (Firms Out of Business) copyright databases
Contact
If you have general questions about permissions issues, especially about fair use, contact the journal's editorial office. Contact information is available on the journal’s Press webpage.
You may also wish to seek advice from university counsel before deciding whether you can claim fair use.