Open access publishing typically involves the copyright holder (the author) choosing any one of several Creative Commons licenses. From an open access standpoint, the less restrictive the license, the better. That said, a license should be chosen that best serves the aims of the author. Below are the various licensing options.
Authors are entitled to negotiate their agreements with publishers. Things to watch for:
1. The right to deposit an open access copy of the work on the author's website or in an institutional repository.
2. Exemptions for teaching and educational purposes.
3. The right to reuse all or portions of the work in future publications.
Typically the author of a scholarly work follows one of two paths with a publisher:
1. Assigns the complete copyright to the publisher
2. Retains copyright but licenses the right of first publication to the publisher.
Both paths invite the author to be vigilant in what they are giving away and what they are retaining.