COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND LICENSING POLICY

Copyright Notice and Licensing Policy

1. Copyright Ownership

Copyright in each article remains with the authors or the lawful rights holder. The journal does not require the transfer of article copyright to the publisher.

Authors must ensure that they have the authority to approve the publication and licensing of the submitted material.

2. The Journal's Publication Rights

Authors grant the journal the right of first publication and non-exclusive permission to edit the article in accordance with the editorial process and to publish, reproduce, distribute, display, and archive it.

This permission includes storage and format migration for indexing and preservation, while maintaining author identification and the integrity of the publication record. Substantive changes require author approval or must follow the journal's correction procedures.

3. Article Reuse License

Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license from the date of publication, without an embargo.

This license permits users to copy, distribute, translate, adapt, and build upon the material, including for commercial purposes, provided that the license terms are met.

Users must:

  • Provide appropriate attribution to the authors and retain the copyright and license notices supplied.
  • Identify the publication source, including the DOI or article link, where available.
  • Include a link to the CC BY 4.0 license.
  • Indicate whether changes have been made and retain notices of previous changes.
  • Avoid implying that the authors or the journal endorse the use without their consent.

Users must not impose legal or technological restrictions that prevent others from using the material as permitted by the license.

Full terms: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

4. Authors' Rights to Disseminate Articles

Authors may deposit and share the published version of their article through institutional repositories, personal websites, or other scholarly channels without an embargo, provided that they acknowledge its first publication in the journal and include the DOI or article link and the applicable license.

Authors may enter into other non-exclusive distribution agreements, provided that these do not conflict with the rights and license already granted. Redistribution must not be presented as a separate new scholarly publication.

5. Third-Party Material

Authors are responsible for ensuring that the use of third-party figures, tables, instruments, photographs, or other material is supported by valid permission or a lawful exception.

Material not covered by CC BY 4.0 must carry a specific notice identifying the rights holder and the applicable terms of use. Publication of material in an article does not automatically confer permission to relicense it.

Users must obtain additional permission if their use of third-party material exceeds the permission available or the applicable exceptions.

6. Other Rights and Permission Requests

The article license does not automatically confer rights relating to trademarks, logos, patents, privacy, or the use of an individual's identity. Uses requiring such rights must satisfy the relevant requirements separately.

Uses already permitted under CC BY 4.0 do not require additional permission from the journal. Requests for uses outside the scope of the license must be directed to the relevant rights holder.

7. Effective Date and Previously Published Articles

This policy applies to articles published under a publication agreement incorporating this license, from the effective date announced by the journal.

Previously published articles remain subject to the license applicable at the time of publication. Changing the license of a previously published article requires the appropriate authority or consent of the rights holder. Reuse rights lawfully granted under a Creative Commons license are not revoked merely because the journal's policy changes.