Permissions and policies

If an article is marked with the “Free” icon, do I need permission to reuse the image(s), table(s) or text within the article?

Yes. “Free" access indicates that the article is freely available for anyone to read, even those without an RSNA Membership or RSNA Journal subscription. However, all are still required to obtain formal permission from RSNA to reuse any content by completing the RightsLink form.

If an article is marked with the “Open” icon, do I need permission to reuse the image(s), table(s) or text within the article?

No. “Open" access indicates that the article was published under the CC BY or CC BY-NC-ND license and content can be re-used by the public without obtaining formal permission from RSNA. To identify the license that the article was published under, scroll to the bottom of an abstract and view the license type under the “Conclusion” section, which will state: “Published under a...license.”

What types of content can be reused?

With official permission, article figures, tables, abstracts, supplemental materials and other partial content can be reused. Use of full-text articles is strictly prohibited. To request full-text article ePrints or reprints, please contact reprints@rsna.org.

How do I obtain permission to use RSNA content?

• Locate content: Locate the content you want to use on RSNA.org, Radiology, RadioGraphics, Radiology: Artificial Intelligence, Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, Radiology: Imaging Cancer or RSNA News. 
• Request permission: Complete the RightsLink form on the CCC's website, agree to the Terms of Use and make a payment (if applicable).

What is an image license?

All authors of articles published in 2012 and beyond will automatically be issued a license for use of their images at the time they transfer copyright ownership of their article to RSNA. For more information, see intellectual property policy.

How should I cite RSNA content that I have received permission to use?

RSNA content should be cited using an official citation style (MLA, APA, etc.). Please acknowledge as follows: Reproduced, with permission, from [author name(s), article name, publication name, year of publication, volume, and page number.] Proper acknowledgment should be given at each place where content is reused.

What do the different format types mean?

RSNA content may be reproduced in one or all of three formats: print, electronic, and/or web.

• Print: thesis, book, journal, etc.
• Electronic: CD-ROM/DVD, email, presentation, electronic book or journal, etc.
• Web: website or intranet

To how many people may I distribute RSNA content?

Indicate the circulation or number of recipients who will receive your work in the RightsLink permission request form. RSNA will then provide a quote based on the circulation requested.

Who may use RSNA content?

RSNA provides the opportunity for all types of individuals and organizations to obtain permission for content use. In your request, it is necessary to include who you are and/or the type of organization you represent.

May I obtain permission to translate RSNA content into other languages?

Permission for translation rights to RSNA content is taken under careful consideration. Please send a detailed request including language, distribution and editorial details to permissions@rsna.org.

Intellectual property policy for RSNA article authors

For works published January 2012 and beyond: All authors of Radiology and RadioGraphics articles published in 2012 and beyond, and authors of all Radiology: Artificial Intelligence, Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging, and Radiology: Imaging Cancer articles, will automatically be issued a license for use of their images at the time they transfer copyright ownership of their article to RSNA. Please note, the license allows the original RSNA author use of their images (artwork, radiologic images and related captions), along with charts, graphs and tables, and does not allow authors the ability to reuse any text and/or software from their article(s) without expressed, written permission from RSNA (permissions@rsna.org).

For works published from April 2003 to December 2011: RSNA authors whose manuscripts have been published in Radiology and/or RadioGraphics from April 2003-December 2011 have received a license for use of their images from RSNA. This license extends for the full term of the copyright and allows authors to use and sublicense their images (artwork, figures, charts, etc.) to others without requesting permission from RSNA. The license does not allow reuse of any text and/or software from their article(s) without expressed, written permission from RSNA (permissions@rsna.org).

For works published before April 2003: RSNA authors of articles published before 2003 may reuse and sublicense their images (artwork, figures, charts, etc.) to others without requesting permission from RSNA. The license does not allow reuse of any text and/or software from their article(s) without expressed, written permission from RSNA (permissions@rsna.org).

RSNA journal article deposits to PubMed Central

In January 2008, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) revised its policy on public access to publications resulting from NIH-funded research. The original public access policy was voluntary for authors. As of April 8, 2008, it is mandatory. The law that made it mandatory states:

The Director of the National Institutes of Health shall require that all investigators funded by the NIH submit or have submitted for them to the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Central an electronic version of their final, peer-reviewed manuscripts upon acceptance for publication, to be made publicly available no later than 12 months after the official date of publication: Provided, that the NIH shall implement the public access policy in a manner consistent with copyright law.

More information about the law and the NIH policy is available at grants.nih.gov.

The new policy means that authors whose research is funded by NIH are required to submit their papers to the federal online archive PubMed Central. The version that must be submitted is the manuscript after peer review, revision and final acceptance for publication.

RSNA will assist authors in complying with this NIH requirement. RSNA believes it is in the interest of science and scientific communication that the journal publish and PubMed Central contain the exact same version of an article. This will help prevent confusion and inaccurate information in the scientific record.

Therefore, on behalf of authors, RSNA will submit the final, published version following RSNA copy editing and production processing. In compliance with the NIH public access policy, RSNA will make the submitted articles open to the public 12 months after the date of publication.

Proprietary rights notice and terms of use for RSNA journals online

Copyright © 2023 Radiological Society of North America, Inc.

1. The editorial content (hereinafter referred to as the "Material") of the journals of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) appearing on this site is copyrighted by the RSNA, which reserves all rights therein.
2. No part of the Material may be used in any form of commercial exploitation, unless published under appropriate license, including but not limited to print or broadcast media, and no subscriber or user may publish as its own any material contained on this site. Users may not use the Material on a public computer based information system, including any electronic bulletin board available to the public, including the internet or world wide web, other than for gaining access to the Material from the RSNA. Users may not use the Material in an artificial intelligence (AI) tool or large language model (LLM) (including, but not limited to, training an AI tool or LLM; testing, processing, or generating output; and/or developing any form of artificial intelligence tool).
3. Use of RSNA journals online constitutes the user's agreement with and acceptance of these terms of use.
4. The person using RSNA journals online may view or store copies of articles in the journals provided that the articles are used only for their personal, noncommercial use. Uses beyond that allowed by the "Fair Use" limitations (sections 107 and 108) of the U.S. copyright law require permission of the RSNA.
5. For permission to copy beyond that permitted by the U.S. copyright law and for reprints, contact the RSNA at permissions@rsna.org. For reprints, contact reprints@rsna.org.
6. Any uses of RSNA journals online in whole or in part must include the customary bibliographic citation, including author attribution, date, article title, journal name and MUST include a copy of the copyright notice.
7. PDF files: Users of RSNA journals online may print single copies in PDF format of journal articles solely for their personal noncommercial use in accordance with terms of use. Substantial or systematic reproduction by users is not permitted. Distributing or posting the PDF files is strictly prohibited without permission of the RSNA.
8. Users may not modify, adapt, transform, translate or create any derivative work based on any Materials in RSNA journals online, or otherwise use any such materials in a manner that would infringe the copyrights therein.
9. Personal accounts and/or passwords may not be shared.
10. Libraries and institutional subscribers should review the RSNA Journals Subscriptions Terms of Use for additional details. 
11. The RSNA reserves the right to modify these terms of use in its sole discretion and to deny access to anyone who breaches these terms. Accessing or use of the Materials following the posting of any such modifications shall be subject to such modified terms.

Disclaimer of warranties

In no event shall the Radiological Society of North America, Inc., or Atypon Systems Inc., be liable, on any theory of liability, for any damages arising out of or in connection with the use of the articles or other material derived from the journals, whether or not advised of the possibility of damage.

RSNA journals online are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or noninfringement. There is no guarantee that the information contained in the online versions of the journals is identical to the print versions of the journals and neither the Radiological Society of North America Inc. or Atypon Systems Inc. has any duty to update the information contained on the online versions to correct errors or otherwise. Descriptions of, or references to, products or publications does not imply endorsement of that product or publication.

Please note: If you are using an offline browser that allows you to download content from a site and read it later, please be aware that we impose one restriction on their use.

• In order for us to provide reliable, continuous and timely access to RSNA journals online for all readers, we require that you configure your offline browser to request no more than one page per minute.
• Noncompliance with this rule will result in your access to RSNA journals online being blocked until you contact us and resolve the problem. If you repeatedly break this rule you will be permanently blocked from the site. If your IP address has been blocked, please contact pubsfeedback@rsna.org.