I am not an employee of the government but I am the author of a manuscript that was funded and/or underwritten by the United States federal government. Can I still publish my article in an Academy of Management publication?

• Whether or not an author has the authority to assign an article to the Academy of Management depends upon his or her agreement with the federal government, and, in particular, the grant agreement. If the grant agreement is silent as to ownership or assignment of copyright, then the author probably has the full authority to transfer ownership to AOM.

• If you, the author, did not sign a copyright transfer agreement with the agency that funded your research then technically you, the author, hold the copyright to the article.

• If the grant agreement provides that either: (1) the United States government permission is needed to publish or assign; or (2) the work is to be assigned to the United States government, then the author cannot assign copyright to the AOM. Technically, the United States government CAN own a copyright IF it (the copyright) is assigned to them. To best answer this question, the AOM may need to review the individual grant agreement.

• If the author wants the article published, he/she should clarify ownership and publication rights with the United States government and/or the funding agency.

• If the author does not own the article, he/she does not have the authority to grant others (publishers such as the AOM) the right to publish his or her material (absent an agreement with the copyright owner). The AOM may still be able to publish this material but the author will need to sign the modified copyright agreement. This agreement can be obtained from the AOM Managing Editor.