Yes, Elsevier definitely is the copyright holder to most of the non-open-access papers it controls. Elsevier, like most other no-OA journals, requires a copyri

Yes, Elsevier definitely is the copyright holder to most of the non-open-access papers it controls. Elsevier, like most other no-OA journals, requires a copyright transfer. Quoting https://www.elsevier.com/about/company-information/policies/copyright https://www.elsevier.com/about/company-information/policies/... : > In order for Elsevier to publish and disseminate research articles, we need publishing rights. This is determined by a publishing agreement between the author and Elsevier. ... > For subscription articles: Authors transfer copyright to the publisher as part of a journal publishing agreement, but have the right to: ... (There are some exceptions. Obviously Elsevier does not control the copyright to materials which are not covered under copyright, like papers produced by employees of the US government as part of their job.)