Fees, payments & publishing transparency

Journal-specific charges

There is no single publisher-wide article processing charge. Authors must consult the chosen journal's current fee information before committing to a paid service. Any submission, processing, publication, colour or other charge must be disclosed clearly, including currency, what it covers and when it becomes payable. A blank fee field is not confirmation that publication is free. If a charge or waiver arrangement is unclear, obtain written clarification from the editorial office before proceeding.

Editorial independence

Ability to pay, payment status and a waiver request must not determine the scientific assessment of a manuscript. Payment must never be presented as a guarantee of acceptance, indexing or a particular publication date. No unexpected publishing charge should be introduced after an author has agreed to different terms without their informed agreement.

Payments and refunds

Use only payment instructions or invoices issued through the journal or publisher's confirmed official channel. Check the service, currency, amount and recipient before paying. Any cancellation or refund conditions must be supplied before payment and will depend on the specific service and applicable requirements. This page does not create a new conference fee or replace a conference's registration and refund terms.

Indexing, metrics and affiliations

Claims about a journal's inclusion in a database must link to a verifiable journal record and explain the nature of the listing. A database search homepage, an application or use of a DOI service is not evidence of inclusion in a citation index. Metrics must identify their source and reporting year. The publisher does not guarantee future indexing or advertise unverified memberships.