Doctoral Research & Writing Guide

As an author, you will have a copyright in your dissertation. As with any other author, you can transfer these rights, or permit others to make use of your work. See the Publishing / Author Rights page of our Copyright researchguide for information on how copyright applies to you as an author.

Because copyright does not apply to facts or ideas, any facts or ideas generated by original research conducted by doctoral students is not subject to copyright. However, a doctoral students writeup or analysis of their research would be protected by copyright.

You may wish to use someone else's copyrighted work in your dissertation. You will have to consider the requirements of copyright law, and whether an exception (or a license/grant of permission) permit you to make use of such works. The library's Copyright Research Guide provides information about using copyrighted materials, and what exceptions may permit you to do so, including:

• What is Copyright
• What Can I Use
• Public Domain
• Fair Use

If no exception lets you use copyrighted material, you can also seek permission from the copyright holder to use the work.

You should make sure to keep a copyright log to track the basis of your use of third party materials in your dissertation. Record information about the material and the justification for using the material in the log.