How does copyright apply to theses and dissertations?
Answer
At Northeastern University, thesis and dissertation copyright belongs to the student who created the work.
For student authors
Although it is not necessary to include a copyright statement, we recommend that you do so. You may also choose to register your thesis or dissertation with the US Copyright Office. This can be done during the ProQuest submission process for a fee of $75.00, or directly with the Copyright Office for $45.00.
Making the full text of your thesis or dissertation available online through the university's ETD program does not void or cancel your copyright. It simply allows your work to reach a wider audience. Others must still ask your permission before reproducing or otherwise using your work beyond fair use.
Read more about copyright and theses/dissertations here:
- "Copyright and Publishing Your Dissertation" by Rachael Samberg, University of California Berkeley Library
- "Copyright Law & Graduate Research: New Media, New Rights, and Your New Dissertation" by Kenneth D. Crews for ProQuest (PDF)
- "So You Want People to Read Your Thesis?" by Danny Kingsley, Australian Open Access Support Group
For those seeking permission to reuse material in a Northeastern University dissertation or thesis
Because student authors of dissertations and theses retain copyright in their work, you must contact the student to receive permission to reuse their work. The Library is not able to grant permission to reuse content in a dissertation or thesis. If you are not able to find current contact information for the student, try contacting their academic department as indicated on the title page of the dissertation/thesis.