Copyright is automatically created when an original expression is fixed in a tangible form.
Publishers usually ask for transfer of copyright through a Copyright Transfer Agreement but authors may choose to keep all or some of their rights.
Authors may also consider using an author’s addendum or a creative commons license.
For more information, check out these links:
RightsLink is a copyright permissions service that facilitates licensing and permissions for the reuse of content. It is commonly used in scientific communications and author services. Customers can use RightsLink to license content and obtain permission for reuse.
Generic steps to use RightsLink:
RightsLink is utilized by various publishers and organizations, such as ACS Publications, Sage Publications, Oxford Academic, to streamline the permissions process for authors and content users.