Boldscholar Publishing Ethics & Rights Policy

1. Aims and Scope

Boldscholar Research Ltd is a digital publishing and knowledge distribution platform committed to advancing global access to scholarly, educational, and creative works.

The platform publishes:

• Peer-reviewed academic journals across multiple disciplines and institutions
• Books, monographs, and conference proceedings
• Educational and research-driven multimedia content, including AI-powered video adaptations

Boldscholar aims to:

• Promote high-quality, ethically sound research
• Enhance accessibility of knowledge globally
• Support innovation in digital and multimedia publishing

2. Open Access Policy

Boldscholar supports a hybrid publishing model:

2.1 Fully Open Access

• Articles are freely available immediately upon publication
• No subscription barriers
• Eligible for indexing in reputable platforms

2.2 Hybrid Access

• Authors may choose Open Access or subscription-based publication
• Open Access articles are clearly labeled

2.3 Subscription Content

• Full-text access restricted to subscribers
• Metadata (title, abstract, authorship) remains publicly accessible

3. Instructions for Authors

3.1 Submission Requirements

Authors must ensure that:

• Submissions are original and not under consideration elsewhere
• All co-authors have approved the submission
• Data presented is accurate and verifiable

3.2 Manuscript Preparation

Submissions should include:

• Title, abstract, and keywords
• Author affiliations and contact details
• Proper citations and references
• Disclosure of funding sources (if applicable)

3.3 Ethical Responsibilities

Authors must:

• Avoid plagiarism and duplicate publication
• Properly acknowledge all sources
• Disclose conflicts of interest
• Obtain necessary ethical approvals (where applicable)

4. Editorial Process (Peer Review)

4.1 Review Model

Boldscholar journals adopt one of the following:

• Double-blind peer review 
• Single-blind peer review (where necessary)

4.2 Review Criteria

Submissions are evaluated based on:

• Originality and contribution to knowledge
• Methodological rigor
• Clarity and structure
• Relevance to journal scope

4.3 Editorial Independence

• Editorial decisions are made independently of financial considerations
• Editors and reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest

4.4 Decision Outcomes

• Accept
• Minor revision
• Major revision
• Reject

5. Licensing Terms

5.1 Open Access Licensing

Open Access content is published under Creative Commons licenses:

• CC BY (Attribution) 

Users may:

• Share and adapt content with proper attribution
• Use content commercially only where permitted by license

5.2 Subscription Content Licensing

• Access limited to authorized users
• Content may not be redistributed or commercially exploited without permission

6. Copyright Policy

6.1 Author Ownership

Authors retain full copyright of their work.

6.2 License to Boldscholar

Authors grant Boldscholar a non-exclusive, worldwide license to:

• Publish and distribute the work
• Archive and preserve content
• Produce derivative formats (e.g., video, audio)

6.3 Author Rights

Authors may:

• Share their work in repositories
• Reuse content in future works
• Grant additional permissions consistent with licensing terms

7. Research and Publication Ethics

Boldscholar adheres to international standards of publishing ethics.

7.1 Misconduct

Prohibited practices include:

• Plagiarism
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Duplicate publication

7.2 Handling Misconduct

Actions may include:

• Retraction of published work
• Publication of corrections
• Author sanctions

8. Retractions and Corrections

• Errors or misconduct will be corrected through formal notices
• Retracted articles remain part of the scholarly record with clear labeling

9. Archiving and Preservation

Boldscholar ensures long-term access through:

• DOI registration via Crossref
• Digital archiving systems
• Repository and institutional partnerships

10. Transparency and Compliance

Boldscholar commits to:

• Public disclosure of editorial boards and policies
• Clear communication of fees (if applicable)
• Alignment with global indexing standards

11. Commercial Use

• Permitted under CC BY with attribution
• Restricted under CC BY-NC
• Prohibited for subscription content without permission

12. Governing Law

This policy is governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

13. Policy Updates

This document may be updated periodically. Changes take effect upon publication.

14. Contact

For editorial, ethical, or rights-related inquiries:
[email protected], [email protected]