When authors sign the copyright transfer agreement (CAT), they are transferring the necessary rights for publication to the publisher. The form is available online or in hard copy.

In the case of article (peer reviewed submissions), this is particularly important with electronic publication as an early view (EV). It allows the research to be published earloer and independently of the printed edition.

This early publication as EV is currently available in: Bautechnik, geotechnik, Beton- und Stahlbetonbau, Steel Construction, and Stahlbau. When a reviewer accepts an essay, it will not be published unless a signed copy of the form has been supplied. The information "sharing principles" also apply.

Reports, i.e. submissions which, instead of stating research findings, document the incorporation of research results into project reports etc., are generally not published in EV. The embargoes on subsequent publication of reports are not as long.