Copyright and Licensing Policy

Copyright and Licensing Policy for Meritorious Journal of Social Sciences and Management (MJSSM)

The Copyright and Licensing Policy of the Meritorious Journal of Social Sciences and Management (MJSSM) outlines the ownership, rights, and responsibilities of both the authors and the journal in relation to the published content. This policy ensures that all published works are protected under copyright law, while also providing clear guidelines on how the content can be used and shared.

Key aspects of the Copyright and Licensing Policy include:

1. Copyright Ownership

  • Author's Rights: Authors retain the copyright to their submitted works upon publication. They maintain full ownership of the content, including the rights to use and distribute their work outside of the journal.
  • Licensing Agreement: Upon submission, authors grant MJSSM a license to publish their work. This license allows the journal to reproduce, distribute, and display the article within the context of the journal’s publication, both in digital and print formats.

2. Open Access Licensing

  • MJSSM follows an open access publishing model. As such, all published articles are made freely available to the public with unrestricted access.
  • Articles published in MJSSM are typically licensed under a Creative Commons (CC) license. The journal may use a CC BY (Attribution) license or similar, which permits others to share, distribute, and adapt the work, provided they attribute the original author.
    • CC BY allows for redistribution, commercial and non-commercial use, and transformation (adaptation) of the work as long as proper attribution is given.
    • The specific type of Creative Commons license (e.g., CC BY, CC BY-NC, etc.) will be specified at the time of publication.

3. Use of Published Work

  • Authors are allowed to use their work in various ways, including:
    • Posting the article on their personal websites, institutional repositories, or social media, as long as they comply with the terms of the open-access license.
    • Reproducing the article in other works or collections, including books, provided proper citation is made.
    • Distributing the article to academic conferences or research groups, ensuring the article remains publicly accessible as per the licensing terms.

4. Derivative Works

  • Under the open-access model, third parties are allowed to create derivative works (such as translations, adaptations, or new research building on the original work) if the article is licensed under a Creative Commons license that permits such modifications (e.g., CC BY).
  • Authors can choose to allow or restrict the creation of derivative works through the licensing options provided when they submit their articles.

5. Non-Exclusive License to the Journal

  • The journal is granted a non-exclusive license to publish the article and distribute it under the agreed-upon terms. This allows the author to retain the copyright while still granting the journal rights to distribute and disseminate the work.

6. Third-Party Content

  • If an article includes third-party content (such as images, charts, or datasets), it is the author’s responsibility to ensure they have the necessary permissions for use and distribution under the licensing terms of MJSSM.
  • Authors must provide proof of permission for any third-party content included in their submission, ensuring that such materials do not infringe on any copyrights.

7. Reprints and Permissions

  • Authors may request permission from the journal to make reprints of their work or share the content in other formats or publications.
  • If the author wishes to republish the article in another journal, book, or platform, they must follow the journal’s procedure for granting permission, which may involve proper citation and adherence to the terms of the initial license.

8. Ethical Considerations and Copyright Violations

  • MJSSM maintains high ethical standards to avoid any copyright violations. If an article is found to infringe upon the copyright of others (e.g., through plagiarized content), it will be rejected or retracted, and appropriate action will be taken.
  • Authors are required to ensure that their submitted work is original, properly cited, and free from plagiarism.

9. Termination of License

  • If necessary, the license granted to MJSSM can be terminated by mutual agreement. However, this would not affect the rights of any third parties who have accessed the article under the terms of the open-access license prior to the termination.

10. Modifications and Updates

  • MJSSM reserves the right to update or amend the copyright and licensing terms in line with changes to copyright law or publishing standards. Any changes to the policy will be communicated to authors at the time of submission or publication.