You retain control over distribution and copyright. Several Web sites help professors identify plagiarized content. Plagiarism.org compares student papers with those available from free online cheating sites, plus papers from past semesters and from other schools. Suspicious phrases are flagged for scrutiny. Essay Verification Engine even checks for paraphrasing.
Software is available to help groups of researchers publish their own niche journals online.
The American Assoc. of University Professors has formed a group to review intellectual property issues such as the sale of class notes. Universities have traditionally given faculty members the intellectual property rights to their own work, although the lectures themselves are owned by the academic institutions. Internet profit opportunities have raised questions about ownership and control of articles, books, and other materials. Publication can be rapid because there are no page limits. All refereeing and editing is by volunteers.