When using third-party figures or reusing your own articles in cumulative dissertations, you will usually need to clarify copyright issues. We can assist you in clarifying these issues with publishers.

To use figures from other publications, you usually need the publisher's permission, as authors have usually transfered their exclusive rights to the publisher. 

Where can I find information?

On the publishers' websites under “Permissions” or “Reuse.”

What options are available?

• General permission: Some publishers (e.g., Seismological Society of America, AGU) allow scientific reuse without individual requests.
• Individual request: Many publishers provide forms that you can use to apply for permission.
• Copyright Clearance Center (Rightslink): Large publishers such as Elsevier, Wiley, and Springer use this service. The library has an account and can assist in obtaining permission.

The source of the first publication must be correctly and completely cited and linked to the publisher's version with a DOI.

Clarify rights early on – consider Open Access as an option

If you are planning a cumulative dissertation, you should clarify the rights for your articles as early as possible – ideally before the first publication.

If possible, publish your articles in an Open Access journal distributed under a Creative-Commons-license (CC BY). This open content license allows for wider re-use options, increases the visibility and reuse of your research, and there are no legal barriers for later publications.

Most publishers have policies on self-archiving and authors' own re-use of the content. Publisher terms differ though, e.g. regarding re-use of published figures and papers and inclusion of yet unpublished, submitted papers in a thesis.

Important:

• Embargo periods: Some publishers only allow publication in a dissertation after the publisher's version has been released. Preprint publication is not always permitted.
• Permitted versions: Check which version you are allowed to use (preprint, postprint, or publisher's version).
• General permissions: Many publishers expressly allow reuse in dissertations—find out about the respective policy.

Contact your university

The publication of dissertations is the responsibility of the university granting the doctorate. For legal and formal questions regarding cumulative dissertations, you can contact the relevant university library or the doctoral office at your university.

Helpful websites:

• TU Berlin: Publishing cumulative dissertations
• University of Potsdam: General requirements for mandatory copies
• FU Berlin: Information on cumulative dissertations