This overview serves to highlight the author's responsibilities and the means by which this person can ensure expeditious production of a GSC report:

1. Ensure text and illustrations are clear and legible.
2. Ensure that all changes and critical reviewers comments are incorporated before submitting the manuscript for editing.
3. Do not affix figures, tables, and photographs to sheets of paper.
4. All photographs taken by staff on GSC projects should be catalogued and given a GSC photo number (see 'Photographs').
5. Check accuracy of References and obtain permission to use copyrighted material [PDF, 43.1 kb, viewer].
6. Do a thorough job of checking the proofs. Although it is expensive to make changes when errors are found at this stage, it is cheaper than making last minute changes at the printing stage. Reports containing 'Errata' sheets reflect badly on the author.

Copyright

Copyright laws protect the original producer, writer, and/or publisher of material from the unauthorized reproduction of that material. Scientists must keep in mind that the unauthorized reproduction of material from scientific reports is no different than that of music, novels, and videotapes, and is subject to prosecution. It is imperative, therefore, that permission be obtained from the copyright holder to use, in a GSC report, any previously published figure, photograph, or other text material — and this is the author's responsibility.

A Copyright Permission Request [PDF, 43.1 kb, viewer] Form has been prepared to assist GSC authors in obtaining copyright clearance. Permission is not required for material already published by other federal government departments. Remember that redrafting a figure or making minor modifications to one does not free the author from seeking copyright clearance.

Check the colophon page of the journal or publication to see if written permission must be obtained to reproduce a figure or photograph. For example, the Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences grants permission to reproduce figures, etc. provided the source is acknowledged, but recommends that the consent of the original author be obtained.

Authors must secure the proper permission in writing and provide a copy with their manuscript, at the time of submission for editing, to be kept in the publishing unit's files. The author is also responsible for ensuring that the appropriate credit is included in the figure caption. Any costs incurred securing this permission (royalties, licensing fees, etc.) are solely the author/division's responsibility.

When illustrations are reproduced from other publications, the appropriate credit will vary according to whether changes were made to the figure or not, taking care to always indicate the original figure number, as the following examples show: