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Terms and Conditions
§ 1 Introduction and Scope
These Terms and Conditions govern the use of the publishing services, websites, submission systems, and journals operated by ICR Publications Ltd, United Kingdom (“the Publisher”, “we”, “us”, “our”). By submitting a manuscript, using our platforms, or engaging with our publishing services, authors, reviewers, editors, and users (“you”) agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
These Terms apply to all journals published by ICR Publications Ltd, including open-access and subscription-based titles, unless otherwise stated.
1.1
These Business Terms and Conditions apply to the conclusion of contracts made via the websites operated by ICR Publications Ltd, including all journal websites and subdomains (hereinafter referred to as the “Website”), or through related electronic mail communication, and to all related publishing, editorial, and production services provided by ICR Publications Ltd, United Kingdom (hereinafter referred to as “ICR Publications”).
1.2
Any user of the Website, submitting author, corresponding author, co-author, or buyer of services shall be referred to throughout these Terms and Conditions as the “Customer” or “You/Your”.
1.3
Any business terms, conditions, or contractual provisions proposed by the Customer which diverge from or contradict these Terms and Conditions shall not apply unless expressly accepted and confirmed in writing by ICR Publications.
1.4
The Terms of Use of the Website, as published on the relevant ICR Publications journal or publisher website, constitute an integral and binding part of these Terms and Conditions.
1.5
In the event of any conflict between these Terms and Conditions and any other terms, policies, or information provided by ICR Publications, including but not limited to journal policies, author guidelines, or Article Processing Charge (APC) information, these Terms and Conditions shall prevail unless explicitly stated otherwise.
§ 2 Offering of ICR Publications
2.1
ICR Publications offers scientific publishing services exclusively through its academic journals hosted on the Website, including editorial handling, peer review coordination, production, and publication services, as further described in § 3 of these Terms and Conditions.
2.2
ICR Publications shall use reasonable efforts to promote and disseminate published content and to seek inclusion of its journals within relevant academic databases, indexing services, and ranking systems. However, apart from the obligations explicitly stated in § 2.1, ICR Publications does not guarantee, warrant, or owe any specific outcomes, including but not limited to indexation, ranking position, citation counts, database inclusion, digital preservation by third parties, repository delivery services, or continued indexing status.
The Customer acknowledges that ICR Publications has no control over the decisions of indexing agencies, ranking bodies, libraries, or third-party platforms.
§ 3 Ordering and Purchasing of Services from ICR Publications
3.1
To request publication and editorial services, the Customer must submit an original scholarly manuscript through the Website or the designated submission system of the relevant journal.
3.2
By submitting a manuscript, the Customer confirms that they are of full legal age and possess full legal capacity to enter into binding contractual obligations.
3.3
The contractual relationship between the Customer and ICR Publications is initiated at the moment an original scientific manuscript (“Manuscript”) is submitted for editorial evaluation, peer review, and possible publication. Once a Manuscript has successfully completed the editorial and peer review process and is approved for publication, it shall be referred to as a scientific article (“Article”).
3.4
By submitting a Manuscript, the Customer agrees to the principles of open access publishing, where applicable, allowing unrestricted public access to the published Article. The Customer further agrees to pay the applicable Article Processing Charge (APC) after acceptance of the Manuscript for publication, where such charges apply.
3.5
ICR Publications shall provide clear, transparent, and accessible information regarding all applicable fees, including APCs, prior to or at the time of Manuscript submission. No fees shall be charged during submission or peer review stages, except where optional or additional services (such as extensive language editing, formatting services, or image processing beyond minor corrections) are expressly requested or required. Any such additional charges shall be disclosed in advance.
3.6
The Customer agrees that all applicable taxes, including but not limited to withholding taxes, value-added tax (VAT), duties, or similar governmental assessments, shall be borne solely by the Customer. All payments to ICR Publications shall be made in full and without deduction. Where taxes apply, the Customer shall ensure compliance with all relevant legal reporting and payment obligations.
3.7 Author Withdrawal During Peer Review
Once a Manuscript has entered the peer review stage, author withdrawal is not permitted as a matter of right. Entry into peer review constitutes substantial editorial and scholarly investment, including the engagement of editors and reviewers.
In exceptional circumstances, withdrawal after peer review has commenced may be considered only at the sole discretion of ICR Publications and shall be subject to the payment of a mandatory withdrawal penalty charge, intended to compensate for editorial handling, reviewer coordination, administrative processing, and related costs already incurred. Failure to pay the applicable penalty shall result in the refusal of the withdrawal request and may lead to suspension of current or future submissions.
3.8
ICR Publications reserves the right, during the evaluation and peer review period, to unilaterally terminate the editorial process at its sole discretion, including for reasons related to scope, quality, ethics, or integrity. In such cases, contractual obligations shall cease, and any prepaid service fees, excluding charges for completed additional services, may be refunded at the discretion of ICR Publications.
3.9
Upon publication, an Article shall form part of the official Version of Record and may be permanently archived and referenced. Articles shall not be removed except under exceptional circumstances, including but not limited to legal orders, ethical violations, infringement of rights, or risks to public welfare. Retractions or removals do not entitle the Customer to any refund of APCs.
§ 4 Manuscript and Copyright Issues
4.1
The Customer warrants that the Manuscript does not infringe any third-party rights. Where copyrighted material is used, the Customer must provide documented permission. The Customer agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ICR Publications against all claims arising from copyright infringement.
4.2
Submission of a Manuscript confirms that it has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal. All authors must have approved the submission, and ICR Publications reserves the right to verify authorship consent.
4.3
Accepted Articles shall be published under the applicable Creative Commons license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) specified by the journal. Copyright remains with the authors, while ICR Publications is granted a non-exclusive license to publish and disseminate the work.
§ 5 Article Processing Charges (APCs)
5.1
Where applicable, journals published by ICR Publications Ltd charge an Article Processing Charge (APC) to support editorial management, peer review, production, hosting, and long-term preservation.
Key principles governing APCs:
APCs are payable only after formal acceptance, unless otherwise stated.
APC payment does not influence editorial decisions.
APC payment does not constitute a guarantee of publication.
§ 6 APC Refund, No Refund in Author-Related Cases, Limited Refund Exceptions
6.1
APCs are non-refundable once acceptance has been granted, as they cover services already rendered, including editorial evaluation, peer review, and production work.
6.2
In the event of overpayment, any bank charges or transaction fees incurred shall be deducted from the refunded amount.
6.3
Once an Article has been published, refunds of APCs shall not be granted.
6.2
No refund will be issued if publication is withdrawn, rejected, or terminated due to:
Author misconduct, misrepresentation, or ethical breaches;
Inconsistencies between author statements and manuscript development;
Concerns regarding the validity, reliability, or integrity of the work;
Failure to comply with editorial or ethical requirements;
Delays or actions attributable to the author.
6.3
Refunds may be considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as:
Duplicate or erroneous payment;
Proven publisher error resulting in non-publication despite compliance.
Formal cancellation prior to acceptance, where applicable.
All refund decisions are made at the sole discretion of the Publisher.
§ 7. Post-Acceptance Actions, Corrections, and Retractions
7.1
ICR Publications Ltd reserves the right to take appropriate post-acceptance or post-publication action in line with COPE guidelines https://publicationethics.org/guidance, including:
Requests for clarification or explanation;
Publication of corrections or corrigenda;
Issuance of an Expression of Concern;
Retraction of an article.
Corrections are appropriate for minor errors. Retractions may be issued where findings are unreliable or ethical breaches are identified. APCs are not refundable in such cases.
§ 8 Patent Issues
By submitting a Manuscript, the Customer acknowledges that publication may affect patentability and confirms that all relevant patent filings have been completed prior to submission.
§ 9 Publication of Email Addresses
9.1
The email address of the Corresponding Author, and any co-authors who consent, may be published with the Article.
9.2
The Corresponding Author is responsible for obtaining consent from all co-authors regarding the publication of their contact details.
9.3
By submission, the Customer agrees to these terms regarding contact information disclosure.
§ 10 Prices, Invoices, and Terms of Payment
10.1
Applicable APCs and service fees are published on the relevant journal or publisher website. Prices applicable are those in force at the time of initial submission.
10.2
Discounts or waivers may be granted at the sole discretion of ICR Publications, including under institutional agreements.
10.3
Upon acceptance, the Corresponding Author shall receive an invoice for the APC. Editorial decisions are independent of payment status.
10.4
Payments are due within the timeframe stated on the invoice.
10.5
Invoices shall be issued electronically and are valid only if issued from an official ICR Publications email domain.
§ 11 Contract Documentation
No separate contract document shall be issued. These Terms and Conditions constitute the binding agreement.
§ 12 Limitation of Liability
ICR Publications shall not be liable for indirect, consequential, or incidental damages arising from editorial decisions, publication delays, or third-party actions, except where liability cannot be excluded under applicable law.
§ 13 Force Majeure
ICR Publications shall not be liable for failure or delay caused by events beyond reasonable control, including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, or governmental actions.
§ 14 Privacy Policy
Personal data shall be processed in accordance with the ICR Publications Privacy Policy as published on the Website.
§ 15 Miscellaneous
15.1
The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over disputes arising from these Terms and Conditions.
15.2
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of England and Wales, excluding conflict-of-law principles.
15.3
If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force.
15.4
ICR Publications reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Continued use of the Website constitutes acceptance of the amended terms.