Article Publication Framework
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) are established for the provision of Article Processing Charge (APC) Services, as described below, by the entity ConductScience Inc. (referred to as the “APC Services Provider”). These services are essential for the publication of an author’s article (“Article”) on an open access basis. Effective execution of the APC Services hinges on the author’s collaboration, and any lack of cooperation as requested by the APC Services Provider could lead to delays or non-fulfillment of these services.
Description of Publishing Services
The APC Services, provided by the APC Services Provider to the customer, encompass all tasks included in the standard article processing charge of the relevant journal. These tasks typically involve a) preliminary publishing services such as managing the publication workflow, offering digital tools for authors and editors, overseeing production and hosting, coordinating with abstracting and indexing services, and providing customer assistance, all according to the specific procedures of the journal in question, and b) securing the open access publication of the Article in the specified journal, contingent on the author’s adherence to the licensing agreement with the journal’s publisher (the “LTP”).
APC Specifications
For the APC Services offered, the customer is obliged to pay the APC, along with any applicable taxes. The APC Services Provider will send an invoice for the APC. It’s noteworthy that some journals under ConductScience Inc. may apply an additional fee for invoice processing, payable alongside the APC, especially if the customer does not use online credit card payment when accepting the APC Payment Terms and Conditions. Irrespective of the chosen payment method, a digital PDF invoice will be sent to the designated email within 3 to 5 business days. The invoice’s currency is strictly based on the customer’s billing country and remains fixed despite currency fluctuations. Payment instructions will be included in the invoice, with a 30-day credit term from the invoice date. Non-payment within this period could lead to the non-publication of the Article or, in the case of hybrid journals, the removal of its open access status and subsequent placement behind a paywall. Further repercussions could include publication restrictions with ConductScience Inc. or associated journals, involvement of debt collection agencies, and possible legal action.
Tax Considerations
The APC and any relevant administrative fee (as outlined in the APC section) do not include any applicable taxes, government charges, levies, or other assessments, collectively termed as “Taxes”. The responsible party must handle reporting, collection, and remittance of these Taxes to the appropriate tax authorities, as per the following terms.
If Taxes are applicable, they must be paid to the APC Services Provider along with the principal amounts.
The APC is exclusively for the provision of the APC Services. Should any withholding taxes be applicable according to the law, the customer cannot deduct these from the principal amounts. These taxes should be remitted to the relevant tax authority, and proof of such remittance must be provided to the APC Services Provider.
Right of Withdrawal
Individual authors as customers are entitled to a withdrawal right, which is not applicable to non-individual authors.
Customers can withdraw from the contract within 14 days without stating a reason.
The withdrawal period concludes 14 days after the contract’s commencement.
For withdrawal, the customer must notify the APC Services Provider (for Americas: ConductScience Inc.’s Customer Service Center LLC, address and contact details; for other regions: ConductScience Inc.’s Customer Service Center GmbH, address and contact details) of their decision through a clear communication medium (e.g., mail, fax, or email). A standard withdrawal form is provided but its use is optional.
Sending the withdrawal notice before the deadline suffices to meet the withdrawal requirements.
Effects of Withdrawal
Upon withdrawal, the APC Services Provider will reimburse all payments received from the customer, including delivery costs (excluding any supplementary costs arising from a non-standard delivery method), promptly and no later than 14 days from the withdrawal notification. Reimbursement will be made using the same payment method as the initial transaction, unless an alternative method is agreed upon, ensuring no fees for the customer.
If the customer initiated service performance during the withdrawal period, they must pay a proportionate amount for the services provided up to the point of withdrawal, relative to the full scope of the APC Services under the contract.
Model Withdrawal Form
[Form details for withdrawal, with specific addresses for Americas and other regions]
Termination
Either party can terminate these Terms with written notice if the LTP is terminated or the Article is not accepted for publication by the journal’s publisher. Additionally, the APC Services Provider may terminate these Terms with written notice if the APC is not paid in full by the due date.
If, upon termination, any portion of the APC has been paid, the APC Services Provider will refund the respective amounts unless (a) the Article has been published, or (b) the Article is retracted or withdrawn from publication due to research integrity or legal issues.
