Kutztown University Research Commons: Intro - Faculty Research

The KURC:

1. is a global-open access platform for faculty research.
2. uses Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to make your research come out near the top of the results when someone searches your key terms on the internet.
3. is open-access, which means that to post something, you need to be the holder of the copyright.
4. gives you a permanent URL address to each piece of work that is never deleted.
5. compiles statistics on the number and locations of views and downloads of your work for your CV or portfolio.

1. because the KURC is open access, posting research where you do not hold the copyright is illegal.
2. if you do hold the copyright, you can protect your work from pirates and plagiarists with a Creative Commons License. (https://www.creativecommons.org/licenses). 
3. when you submit your work, you will be given the option of choosing a license
4. if you post something to the KURC, and later sign over your copyright to have it published in a journal, the KURC will take down the article and post a link to the new location, even if it means the searchers will run into a paywall.
5. look at your contract with the publisher --  did you give the publisher the copyright to preprints as well as the final article?  If you still hold the copyright to the preprint, it can be posted on the KURC.
6. also in your contract, does the publisher require you sign over both the copyright and the distribution rights?  The KURC could be used to distribute your work.

.