Q: Do I need permission from the publisher of the original figures even if I have redrawn them?
I submitted a review article, and it is now at the final proofing stage. Currently I am required to proof the figures. At the legends I wrote “Figure X from Reference No. X is referred to” and the original source is cited, but the figure itself was redrawn by myself. In this situation, should I also request for the permission from the original publisher of the source contents?
If the figure is exactly the same as or very similar to the one you have cited, it is best to take permission from the journal where the original figure was published. Generally, permission is required for reproducing figures, that is, making an exact copy of the figure, irrespective of whether you have used the same figure or redrawn one that looks the same or very similar. However, if the figure you have used is different, you could use the words "Figure X adapted from Reference No. X." In that case, you might not need to take permission from the journal. However, it's best to get an opinion from a senior colleague or supervisor before deciding to go ahead without permission.
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This content belongs to the Manuscript Writing Stage