Before a work is published, whether through traditional mediums or not, authors have the right to decide how their work can be disseminated and utilized in the field of research. If using commercial publishers, some conditions may apply where the author may waive their rights on how the work may be disseminated.
The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition, (SPARC) is an organization that provides awareness to authorship issues in academia and research, providing tools such as addendums to publishing agreements in order to more clearly define authors' rights in the publishing process.
Additionally, Authors Alliance is an organization that works to help inform authors of the evolving landscape of digital information, policy, as well as dissemination in order to more widely promote their scholarly work for the common good.
According to the U.S. Copyright Act, the purpose of copyright is a means for a creator or owner of a particular work to receive exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license the work. To be covered by copyright a work must be original and in a concrete "medium of expression." Currently, works will adhere to copyright whether or not the particular work in question is officially registered for copyright.
Modern application of copyright originated within Article I, Section 8 of The United States Constitution, as taken from the Preface to Copyright Law: "The Congress shall have Power ... To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."