FAQ on Copyright Guidelines

FAQ on Copyright Guidelines

<Preparing manuscript>

    What is citation?
    Japanese Copyright Law defines a few exceptions that allows you to use copyrighted materials published by others.
    Citation is one of them but the following conditions must be satisfied.
    • The material to be cited must have been published.
    • There must be a justifiable reason to cite according to generally-accepted practices, such as using citation for reinforcing an argument in a paper,
    • Citation must be within a range of the following.
    • The citation is clearly visible, such as using quotation marks
    • The main body of your paper is your own, and the cited parts are minor.
    • You must not violate moral rights (identity of the author, etc.)
    • Souce of the citation must be included. In case of a paper, the citation must be accompanied with a note showing the title, the author, the name of the publications , and the page numbers. Referring to the source paper in the reference list is not considered to be a proper citation if the portions of the citation are not clearly specified.
    What should I know if I want to use a part of articles in other publications?
    Japanese Copyright Law allow you to cite others' copyrighted materials within a reasonable extent. In general, your citation must: 
    • Be minimum in size and clear in its boundary.
    • Have clear indication of its source (author, volume, publisher, name of the publication, pages, etc.)

    When you are NOT sure whether your citation is reasonable or not, you should contact the original author and obtain the author's license to copy.

    I want to use tables (or figures) in other publications. What is the right procedure to follow?
    If it is considred to be a citation (see above), you can use it by showing its source. For example, if you want to use one or two figures or tables from other publications, it is considered to be a citation and no further processes are required. If it is beyond citation (e.g., using more than two figures from one publication), you should obtain a license of the author of the original publication.
  1. I want to modify some other's figure and use it in my paper. Do I need to obtain license of the author of the original paper?
    If it can be considered to be a citation, you can use it without obtaining any license of the original author with an appropriate notice (e.g., "Original figure appeared in John Doe, Principles of XX, YY Publishing, Co., Page ZZZ, modified by the author"). If it is beyond a citation, you must obtain a license of the author.
  2. I want to use a picture of cartoon character goods in my IPSJ article. What should I do?
    First you should check if the character is copyrighted. If so, you should obtain a license of the company that markets the character.
  3. I want to take a picture of a public lecture and use it in my article.
    You should contact the organizer or the lecturer and have their consent.

<Using my own paper> (a paper whose copyright has been transferred to IPSJ)

  1. When do I need to notify IPSJ for using my own paper somewhere else?
    The priciple of no notification is as follows. If you are unsure, you are recommended to notify.
    1. When IPSJ Copyright Guidelines explicitly grant.
      1. When posting the material on the author's (or author's organization's) website.
      2. When sumitting your SIG Technical Reports to other societies as a refereed paper in case you do not request the return of your copyright from IPSJ.
      3. When using the paper by modifying or rewriting more than 25% of the original work.
    2. When the Japanese Copyright Law allows as personal use or educational use .
    3. When your organization mandates (e.g., reprint of technical reports) or sponsors of research grants require (e.g., reports of a government project) reports.

    Note: These reports or reprints should display the original source as an IPSJ publication.

    In other cases (either publishing or distributing to an unspecified group of people or using your publication for the commercial purposes), you must notify IPSJ.

    <Summary> (Difference from the original is less than 25%)

    O : Yes, no need to notify
    +: Yes, need to notify
    X : No

      Journal, Transaction, Magazine SIG Techical Reports, Symposium, Annual Convention
    Distribution before publication (incl. electronic means)
    +
    +
    Distribution after publication
    +
    +
    Reasonable reproduction within your organization
    O
    O
    Publication at the author's own website
    O
    O
    Submission to other societies
    X
    O
    Commercial publication
    +
    +
  2. I want to use my IPSJ paper in my class. Is it possible?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 2 allows you to use your paper in other publications. Use the Form A to notify it to IPSJ. If the use can be considered as a citation (small amount, clear indication of the source, etc.), you do not need to notify. Also if you modify your original paper more than 25%, you can use it without notifying.
  3. Somebody recommended me to submit my SIG Technical Report to another society as a referred paper. What should I know in doing this?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 3 allows you to do so without any notice. In such a case, IPSJ will never claim its copyright regarding your paper. 

    If the society requires the copyright of your paper, you should ask IPSJ to return the copyright to you using Form B.

    In such a case, you and / or the society must grant the copyright to IPSJ in order to continue its services (publications, digital library, etc.). IPSJ does not recommend this form of reuse. Rather, you should consider rewrite (and improve!) your paper at least by 25% and have a fresh copyright.

  4. How can I determine my new paper has at least 25% of new contents?
    Unfortunately we do not have any objective criterion today. Based on the experiences of applying these Guidelines may allow us to define such criteria in the future, but for now, you should decide if the changes are more than 25%.
  5. I want to use my IPSJ paper in a lecture at my university. Can I reprint and distribute it?
    The Japanese Copyright Law Article 35 allows the use of copyrighted materials for educational purposes, so you can use it without obtaining a grant. If your use is beyond what is defined in Article 35, you should notify IPSJ using Form A.
  6. I want to use my IPSJ paper at outside lectures. Can I use it as a text? Can I distribute reprints?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 1 allows this. You must notify IPSJ using Form A.
  7. I want to translate my IPSJ article and publish it somewhere else. Can I do it?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 1 allows this. You must notify IPSJ using Form A
  8. Am I allowed to post my IPSJ paper on my company's intranet?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 5 allows this. You do not need to notify IPSJ, but you should indicate the source and the notice on its usage.
  9. Can I publish my IPSJ paper on the network?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 5 allows this if your paper is posted on your own website or your organization's website. You do not need to notify IPSJ, but you should indicate the source and the notice on its usage.
  10. What is the definition of "the organization that I belong to," whose website is allowed to post my paper?
    "Organization" includes corporations, educational institutions, and even informal research groups.
  11. Can IPSJ SIG's publish their reports on their website?
    SIG's are an IPSJ organization so they are allowed to publish their papers through their web pages.
  12. Can I link my home page to IPSJ website?
    Yes, it is welcome. You should note that if the link points to a fee-based online service page, the link cannot work without having a proper authentication. IPSJ may ask to remove a link to IPSJ if the link is used for defaming IPSJ.
  13. Can I download my paper from IPSJ website and redistribute it?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 5 allows this. In addition, Part 5 also allows you to post it on your Web page. However, you need to notify IPSJ using Form A if you want to make reprints.
  14. If I publish my paper on my website, can others download my paper?
    Yes, as long as it is within a limited group. Otherwise, the use is subject to Notice of the Use defined in IPSJ Copyright Guidelines.
  15. I was asked to write an article for the IPSJ magazine. Can I use it in my open lecture before the publication?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 1 allows this. You should notify IPSJ using Form A.
  16. I wrote an article for the IPSJ Magazine. Can I reprint it within my company or distribute it using my intranet mailing list?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 1 allows this. No notification to IPSJ is necessary.
  17. Can I post my paper to a specific mailing list before publication?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 1 allows this. You should notify IPSJ by Form A.
  18. I found errors and/or possible improvements in my published paper. Can I make modifications and publish the new version on website?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 5 allows this. You should clearly mark the differences from the original. If the changes are more than 25%, you are free to use it as a separate material.
  19. What is the process for publishing my IPSJ article as a separate book?
    If your book has more than 25% difference from the original article, you should not care. If the difference is less than 25%, you should notify IPSJ using Form A. Further, IPSJ needs to contact your publisher regarding the use of the copyrighted material.

<Using papers written by others>

  1. Can I use IPSJ published materials in my university lecture?
    Japanese Copyright Law allows copy and distribution of copyrighted materials for educational purposes. So you can use it without obtaining a grant from IPSJ.
  2. Can I use IPSJ published materials for our company's internal training?
    As for reprints, IPSJ is contracted with Japan Reprographic Rights Center (Phone: +81-3-3401-23829. If your company has a comprehensive reproduction contract with the Center, you should follow the procedures defined by the contract. Otherwise, you should contact The Japan Academic Association for Copyright Clearance, Inc (JAACC, +81-3-3475-5618).
  3. I want to edit a memorial volume of collected papers for my professor who reached at age 60. Can I pick up his papers from IPSJ publications and put them into the volume?
    If you have the professor's approval, we consider it as being approved by the author, so according to IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 2, you can use the papers. You should notify IPSJ by using Form A.
  4. I want to compile a report by summarizing a someone else's paper published by IPSJ. Can I do it? Does it depend on if the report is internal or external? Or does it matter if the report is required by public sector?
    You should obtain IPSJ's grant according to IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 4. It is not the case if the use is within the range of citation.
  5. I want to compile a training material for our company's internal education based on articles published by IPSJ. Should I obtain an approval from IPSJ?
    Yes, this is defined in IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 4.
  6. I want to post all the papers written by our company's employees on the company's website. Can we have a collective approval from IPSJ?
    If all the authors agree to do so, it is allowed to put them on the company's Web page without notifying IPSJ, according to IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 5, Part 5.
  7. I am considering to publish several articles in a special issue of the IPSJ magazine. Is it possible?
    You must request an approval from IPSJ according to IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 4. The request will be discussed at IPSJ board of directors meetings.
  8. Can I translate and publish an IPSJ article written by somebody else?
    IPSJ Copyright Guidelines Article 4 requires you to have an approval. The board of directors will determine if it is approved.

<Others>

  1. What is the IPSJ contact point regarding Copyrights?
    Publication Section
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