Meta-analysis and copyright issues

[Andrea Ciarrocchi]

I need to create a table summarizing and reporting some of the data shown in the studies included in my meta-analysis. Now, given that such material is covered by copyright, do I need a formal consent from copyright owners? This is a general issue involving any meta-analysis. How do you usually face the problem?

Thank you.

[Blair T. Johnson]

Usually, if you are just summarizing the information already published, the publishers have no reason to claim copyright infringement. If you are reproducing figures or tables or quotations from a publication, then getting the publisher to release the copyrighted information is an issue. But publishers are increasingly savvy and cooperative in these matters. Most have links on their journal sites that facilitate getting the releases you might need.