Use of Third-Party Material

October 14, 2025

Use of Third-Party Material

At Global Journals®, we support scholarly creativity and reuse, but we also protect the rights of creators. When authors wish to include third-party content (material not originally created by themselves or co-authors) in articles or book chapters, certain rules and permissions must be observed. This policy clarifies responsibilities, permissions, attribution, and risk management for third-party materials.

What Counts as Third-Party Material

Third-party material can include, but is not limited to

  • Photographs, illustrations, diagrams, charts, maps, or images.
  • Tables or data sets not generated by the authors.
  • Audio or video clips, multimedia content.
  • Textual excerpts, quotations, poems, lyrics, or extended passages.
  • Screenshots, logos, brand names, or trademarks.
  • Adapted or derivative versions of someone else’s work.

If you did not originally create the content or you intend to adapt it, it is considered third-party material.

Permissions and Rights Clearance

Authors must ensure they have all necessary rights before submitting a manuscript that includes third-party material. Steps include

Identify the copyright holder

Determine who holds permission rights for the material (this may be the original author, a publisher, or an agency).

Request written permission

Obtain permission in writing, specifying scope (print, online, all formats), territory, duration, and any restrictions.

Review licensing terms

If the material is already licensed (for example under a Creative Commons license), ensure your intended use is compliant with that license.

Document and submit evidence

During submission, authors should submit copies of permission letters, license text, or screenshots.

If permission cannot be secured, the material must be excluded or replaced with an alternative (e.g. public domain or original creation).

Attribution and Captioning

Every third-party item must include a clear attribution in its caption or legend. A valid caption generally includes

  • Title or description of the material
  • “Adapted from” or “Reproduced from” designation (if applicable)
  • Original author(s) or rights holder
  • Year of original publication
  • Source (journal, book, URL)
  • Copyright notice and whether permission was obtained
  • Any license terms (especially for Creative Commons or similar)

If you did not originally create the content or you intend to adapt it, it is considered third-party material.

For example

Figure 3:
Global temperature trends (adapted from Smith et al. 2020, © 2020, used with permission).
If the rights holder requires a specific attribution or wording, that must be used verbatim.

Use Under Fair Use / Fair Dealing Exceptions

In some jurisdictions, limited use of copyrighted content is permitted without formal permission under fair use (USA) or fair dealing (UK, India, etc.). However

  • The use must be justifiable (e.g., for criticism, review, scholarship).
  • Only the minimum necessary portion may be included.
  • Use must not harm the market value of the original work.
  • Proper attribution is always required.

When in doubt, authors should seek permission rather than rely solely on exception claims.

Licensing in Open Access Contexts

When publishing under open access, it is ideal for third-party material to be licensed under the same open license as the main work (e.g. CC BY). But because rights holders may not grant that, in practice

Third-party material may be included under a more restrictive license or “all rights reserved.

Authors must clearly indicate licensing terms for third-party items (which may differ from the article or book’s main license).

Let readers know in captions or notes when a third-party item is excluded from open reuse.

This “patchwork licensing” is accepted as long as transparency is maintained.

Responsibilities of Authors

Before submitting
  • Confirm that all third-party materials are cleared, properly attributed, and authorized for use.
  • Avoid including third-party content when permission is unlikely or cannot be documented.
  • Replace or omit materials lacking permission.
  • Be prepared to provide proofs or evidence of clearance upon request .
After acceptance
  • Editors or production staff may verify permission documents.
  • If permission issues arise late, authors may be asked to revise or remove offending content prior to publication.

Consequences of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with this policy may result in

  • Delay in publication.
  • Removal or substitution of unauthorized materials.
  • Rejection or withdrawal of the manuscript.
  • Correction or retraction post-publication, with notice to readers.
  • Legal or reputational risk for the author or publisher.

Protecting Rights and Promoting Transparency

Global Journals® is committed to

  • Upholding intellectual property rights.
  • Ensuring clarity for readers about what material is reusable.
  • Avoiding liability for unauthorized use.
  • Encouraging authors to favor public domain or openly licensed content.

We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining a respectful and legally compliant publishing environment.