Typically, an academic publisher will ask you to sign an agreement transferring “all rights” in your article or book that are derived from your dissertation, including electronic rights. Unless you receive specific permission from the publisher to have your dissertation remain freely available over the Internet, such an agreement once signed will require you to take action to make it electronically inaccessible outside of Penn State. Read your publishing contract carefully, consult your advisor if you have any questions about it, and seek answers from the publisher on any matters that remain unclear to you. This is a legal document that, once signed by both parties, imposes certain liabilities and responsibilities on you that are fully enforceable in a court of law, and it behooves you to understand what action or inaction of yours could lead to a violation of the contract and the legal consequences ensuing therefrom.

Site of the Month for June 2011 talks of Publishing Information. Publish Directory provides useful information about publishing, newspapers, magazines & e-zines, breaking news, journals, chats & forums, television, weblogs.