Can I retain the copyright of the submitted article?

Yes, authors typically retain the copyright to their submitted articles. Journal submission usually involves granting the publisher a license to publish and distribute the work, not transferring full copyright ownership. Authorship inherently confers copyright under most legal systems, though specific rights are often defined in the journal's publishing agreement. Crucially, most journals require authors to sign a formal agreement outlining the permitted uses. This commonly involves granting the publisher an exclusive or non-exclusive license for first publication and distribution. Authors generally retain broad reuse rights, such as sharing preprints/postprints and using their work in teaching or future publications, subject to proper citation. It is vital for authors to carefully review and understand the specific terms presented in the publisher's agreement prior to acceptance. Retained copyright enables authors to control further dissemination and reuse of their work beyond the journal's publication. This allows authors to legally deposit accepted manuscripts in institutional repositories (under applicable open access policies), self-archive versions, repurpose figures or text in later publications, and share copies with colleagues. Understanding the licensing terms ensures authors maximize the reach and impact of their research while respecting the publisher's role.