What are embargoes and how do they affect your research in RaY?

Publishers may impose an embargo on when an article can be made open access in an institutional repository. These typically start from the date of first publication, including online publication, and range from 6 to 24 months.

The HEFCE open access policy allows repositories to set publisher embargoes on deposited articles as long as the record is discoverable and the content made available at a later date. Where there is an embargo, articles must be made open access no later than 1 month after the HEFCE specified maximum embargo periods:

• 12 months for REF panels A and B
• 24 months for REF panels C and D

When you upload your research article into RaY, usually the author accepted manuscript, you can check whether it needs to be embargoed by checking your author copyright agreement or the journal on Sherpa/Romeo . If one is specified, you can enter an embargo end date and set the item to be visible to Repository staff only when you upload your document. If your article is still in press and you haven’t been given a publication date, simply set the item to Repository staff only and when your item is published please email RaY staff  who will add the correct embargo date.

Publisher policies for uploading book chapters (which are not included in the HEFCE policy, vary and these often include embargoes of up to 36 months from the date of publication. RaY staff can advise you on these.

For help in uploading your research to the institutional repository email RaY