Version of record
{{Short description|Official version of an article, published by a publisher}}
File:Preprint_postprint_published.svg, postprint, and published) with open access sharing rights per SHERPA/RoMEO.]]
The version of record of an article is the fully copyedited, typeset and formatted copy of a manuscript as published,{{Cite web|last=Wilkinson|first=Laura J.|title=Version control, corrections, and retractions|url=https://www.crossref.org/education/crossmark/version-control-corrections-and-retractions/|access-date=2021-01-25|website=Crossref|language=en}}{{cite arXiv|last1=Haustein|first1=Stefanie|last2=Bowman|first2=Timothy D.|last3=Costas|first3=Rodrigo|date=2015-05-04|title=When is an article actually published? An analysis of online availability, publication, and indexation dates|class=cs.DL|eprint=1505.00796}} in contrast with earlier versions such as preprints (unaccepted manuscripts) and postprints (accepted manuscripts). The terminology is used in a wide variety of written media (e.g. books, journals, monographs).
Description
For print documents, the version of record will be the version as printed and distributed. For electronic documents it is typically the HTML and PDF version. For items published in both a print and electronic version, the electronic copy is often the version of record.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The Version of Record: What Is It and Does It Matter?|url=https://blog.apastyle.org/apastyle/2009/12/the-version-of-record-what-is-it-and-does-it-matter.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-26|website=blog.apastyle.org|publisher=APA Style 6th Edition Blog}} An article's version of record is often assigned a persistent identifier or handle (e.g. a DOI) to unambiguously disambiguate the version being referred to.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Handle Registry|url=http://handle.net/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-25|website=handle.net}}
Ownership and copyright
{{See also|Copyright policies of academic publishers}}
In subscription publishing models, authors transfer copyright of the version of record to the publisher and it is this version that is paywalled to generate revenue. For open access publications, copyright for the version of record is retained by the authors, with a license attached (typically a Creative Commons variant) that allows hosting by the publisher, and free reuse, sharing and adaptation.