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Hi Douglas, 
Thank you for clarifying the copyright situation and confirming that I can use the atlas rendering.
In our figure legend, we have already cited FreeSurfer and the Desikan–Killiany atlas. I also explained to the journal that the image was generated in FreeSurfer (version 7.4.1) using the MNI152 template brain with the default atlas, and that the MNI template is not under copyright.
However, Scientific Reports sometimes insists on having a signed permission letter even when attribution is already provided. Just in case our current explanation is not sufficient for them, would you be willing to sign the short statement below? This would allow me to forward it to the journal if needed, so there are no delays in acceptance

Permission Letter
To: Springer Nature Limited
Re: Manuscript submission to Scientific Reports
I, [Name], on behalf of the FreeSurfer team and Massachusetts General Hospital, confirm that the attached image, which was generated using FreeSurfer software (version 7.4.1) with the default Desikan–Killiany atlas applied to the MNI152 template brain, may be published by Springer Nature Limited under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Permission is granted for publication in all formats, including print and digital, and for distribution, reproduction, and adaptation, provided that appropriate credit is given as required under the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license.
Signed,
[Name]
[Title/Position]
FreeSurfer Team / Massachusetts General Hospital
[Date]
[Signature]

If you prefer, I can also adjust the wording so it explicitly notes that the MNI152 template is not under copyright, and that the permission applies only to the atlas rendering.
Thank you again for your help,
Matic

From: Douglas N. Greve <dgreve@mgh.harvard.edu>
Sent: 11 August 2025 2:33 AM
To: freesurfer@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu <freesurfer@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu>
Subject: [Freesurfer] Re: Permission Request to Publish FreeSurfer MNI Template Rendering under CC BY
 
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Hmmm, this looks kind of strange to me. People put images of the inflated brain in publications all the time. We certainly don't hold any copyright for the MNI (I don't think there is one). If we do hold a copyright on the atlas rendering, you certainly have permission to use it. Can you write up a statement that meets your criteria?


On 8/8/2025 4:23 AM, Matic Kadiš wrote:

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Dear FreeSurfer Team,

I am a co-author on a manuscript currently in revision for Scientific Reports. One of our figures includes the attached image, which was generated in FreeSurfer (version 7.4.1) from the MNI152 template brain using the default Desikan–Killiany atlas, with the insula highlighted and inflated.
The journal requires explicit written permission from the copyright holder to publish this image under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license in all formats (print and digital). Their requirements are:
  • The permission must be in English.
  • It must explicitly grant Springer Nature Limited permission to publish the image under a CC BY 4.0 open access license.
  • It must cover publication in all formats (print and digital).

Could you please confirm whether MGH / the FreeSurfer team holds the copyright for the MNI template and atlas rendering, and if so, provide a signed permission letter meeting these conditions? I am happy to provide any additional details you need. Of course, a different approach to how you usually handle requests like that is also acceptable.

Thank you very much for your time and assistance.

Best regards,

Matic Kadiš

asist. Matic Kadiš, mag. psih.

Asistent | Assistant


Univerza v Mariboru | University of Maribor

Filozofska fakulteta | Faculty of Arts

Oddelek za psihologijo | Department of Psychology
Koroška cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija

 

E: matic.kadis1@um.si

 


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