Scholarly Record Updates

This policy describes how decisions made after publication are carried out in article files, notices, metadata, and related records. The grounds for each type of notice are set out in the Correction, Retraction, and Expression of Concern policies.

1. Notice Visibility and Article Status
Formal notices are freely accessible, clearly labeled, dated, and linked to the affected publication. The article page includes a visible link to any notice and shows the article’s current status.

Retractions are clearly marked on the article page and in downloadable files wherever this is technically feasible. Notices identify the affected article clearly enough for it to be found and cited reliably.

When a concern is resolved or a decision changes, earlier notices remain traceable. Public explanations must not disclose sensitive information unnecessarily.

2. Version History and Identifiers
Substantive changes to a file are accompanied by a dated explanation or a formal notice. The journal keeps a record of what changed and preserves earlier versions where this is feasible and lawful. In privacy-sensitive cases, earlier versions may need to be kept in restricted form rather than made public.

The original article’s DOI and bibliographic identity normally remain active. Formal notices receive their own identifiable records and persistent identifiers, where the journal’s registration arrangements support this.

The original submission, acceptance, and publication dates must not be replaced with an update date. If a genuine date error is found, it may be corrected, with a record of the reason for the amendment.

3. Metadata and External Services
The journal updates the relevant OJS metadata, article files, and notice links. Where supported, correction or retraction relationships are communicated through DOI registration and metadata distribution services.

The journal makes reasonable efforts to inform indexing, discovery, repository, and preservation services through their available update channels. These external services control their own processing times and may keep earlier copies.

Authors should, where possible, update any related preprint or repository records with links to the relevant notices. Deposit permissions and preservation arrangements are governed by their own policies.

4. Exceptional Content Removal
A retraction normally leaves the article accessible. Removal or restricted access is considered only in exceptional cases, such as a binding legal requirement, serious harm to privacy or safety, or unlawful material that cannot reasonably remain available.

The journal applies the least extensive measure that is effective, such as redacting the affected material where that is sufficient. The authorized editor and the publisher document the reasons and obtain appropriate advice where needed.

Wherever it is lawful and safe, the bibliographic record and an explanatory notice are retained. A request to avoid criticism, to erase an unfavorable result, or to conceal an article’s history does not, on its own, justify removal.

5. CC BY 4.0 and Record Integrity
A correction, a retraction, or removal from the journal website does not by itself revoke a valid CC BY 4.0 license that has already been granted. Nor does that license override privacy, confidentiality, or other rights outside its scope.

Readers are encouraged to check and accurately report the current status of an article. This request does not restrict the rights granted by CC BY 4.0. The detailed licensing terms are set out on the Copyright and Permission Statement page.