1. Copyright Ownership

At the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, we believe that authors should retain the rights to their work. Therefore, we allow all authors to keep the copyright for the articles they publish with us. This means that when an article is accepted and published, the authors continue to own the full copyright to their work. The journal does not take ownership of the article; instead, we ask for certain rights that allow us to share the research with our readers.

By retaining their copyright, authors have full control over how their work is used. They can decide if they want to reuse the content in another format, share it on personal or institutional websites, or distribute it to their colleagues. This ensures that authors continue to have authority over their research both now and in the future.

However, when authors submit their work to the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, they grant us the right of first publication. This means that the journal has the exclusive right to be the first to publish the article. Once published, the article becomes part of our journal, and we can share it with the world through our website and other platforms where our journal is distributed. This right of first publication allows us to present your work to a global audience in a timely and professional manner.

After publication, authors may continue to use their work as they see fit, but the journal will always remain the first platform where the research was made publicly available. This balance between retaining copyright and granting publication rights ensures that authors can enjoy the benefits of their work being shared globally while maintaining full ownership of their intellectual property.

2. Licensing

In order to maximize the reach and impact of the research published in the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, all articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license is one of the most flexible and open licenses available, and it ensures that the work can be shared widely while still giving credit to the authors.

The CC BY 4.0 license allows anyone to:

• Copy: Others can make copies of the article in any format, such as digital or print, without needing to ask permission.
• Share: Readers can distribute the article to others, whether that’s by sharing a link, emailing it, or posting it on social media or academic platforms.
• Adapt: Others can remix, transform, or build upon the article to create new work, including using it for commercial purposes, as long as they properly attribute the original authors and the journal.

The key requirement of the CC BY 4.0 license is that proper credit must always be given to the original authors and to the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports. This includes citing the article in any new work and providing a link to the Creative Commons license that governs its use. By following these simple guidelines, readers and researchers can freely use the work, ensuring that the research has a global impact and contributes to the advancement of science.

The use of the Creative Commons license aligns with the journal’s Open Access model, where all research is available for free to anyone, anywhere in the world. This means that there are no barriers to accessing the research, and the work can be widely disseminated and used, which is beneficial to both the authors and the global research community.

3. Author Rights

After an article has been published in the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, authors retain several important rights that allow them to continue using and sharing their work. These rights help ensure that the research reaches a broad audience and that the authors can continue to benefit from their work after it has been published.

Authors are free to:

• Share their work: Authors can post the published version of their article on personal websites, blogs, institutional repositories, or academic networking sites like ResearchGate or Academia.edu. This means that authors can make their research widely available to their peers and the public. As long as a proper citation and a link to the original article in the journal are provided, authors are free to share their work as much as they like.
• Use the work in future publications: Authors can incorporate their article into future work, such as books, conference presentations, or academic theses. This is particularly helpful for authors who are building on their research for future projects or who want to include it in teaching or training materials. Proper attribution to the original publication in the journal must always be given when reusing the work.
• Distribute copies to colleagues and students: Authors may distribute digital or printed copies of their articles to colleagues, students, or collaborators. This is useful for those who wish to use the article as part of a teaching course or to share it with others working in a related field. Again, proper credit to the journal and a link to the article are required.

By retaining these rights, authors are not limited in how they can use or share their work. The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports encourages authors to take full advantage of these rights to ensure that their research reaches the widest possible audience.

4. Third-Party Materials

When preparing a manuscript for submission, it’s important that authors consider any third-party materials included in the article. Third-party materials include any figures, tables, images, or data that were created by someone else and may be subject to copyright restrictions.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that they have secured permission from the original copyright holders for any third-party materials used in their articles. This might involve contacting the publisher or creator of the material and requesting formal permission to include it in the manuscript. Authors should also ensure that they properly acknowledge the source of any third-party material used.

For example:

• If an author wishes to include a figure from another publication, they must first obtain permission from the publisher of that publication. This permission must be granted in writing, and the original source must be credited in the figure caption or reference list.
• If data from a publicly available dataset is used, authors should check whether any special conditions apply to the use of that data, such as requiring acknowledgment of the original creators or institutions.

Failure to secure the necessary permissions for third-party materials could result in delays during the review process or rejection of the article. It is the sole responsibility of the authors to ensure compliance with copyright laws, and the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports cannot assume liability for any copyright infringement related to third-party materials.

To avoid potential issues, we recommend that authors address copyright concerns early in the manuscript preparation process and contact the journal’s editorial team if they have any questions about using third-party materials.

5. Modification and Revisions

Once an article has been published in the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, the copyright terms associated with that article are generally considered final. However, there may be rare instances where an author requests a modification to the copyright or licensing terms after publication.

Modification requests must be submitted in writing to the editorial office, clearly outlining the reason for the request and the specific change being sought. The editorial team will review each request on a case-by-case basis, considering the impact that the change might have on the journal, the authors, and the readers. The journal reserves the right to approve or deny such requests based on editorial discretion.

It’s important to note that while changes to copyright terms are uncommon, the journal remains open to considering requests where necessary. For example, if an author’s work becomes part of a larger project requiring a change in licensing terms, the editorial team may consider making accommodations provided it does not compromise the integrity of the journal or the visibility of the article.

Authors should be aware that changes to copyright terms after publication may affect how their article is distributed and cited. Therefore, any modification should be carefully considered and discussed with the editorial team before making a formal request.

6. Contact Information

We understand that copyright issues can be complex, and authors or readers may have questions about how copyright applies to their specific circumstances. For any questions or concerns about the copyright terms at the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, our editorial team is here to help.

Please feel free to contact us at [[email protected]]. We are available to answer any questions related to:

• Author rights: If you’re unsure about how you can reuse or share your article after publication, we can provide guidance on your options.
• Third-party materials: If you need assistance with securing permissions for third-party content or have questions about how to properly attribute the original source, we can offer advice.
• Licensing: If you’re unsure about how the Creative Commons license applies to your work or how to correctly attribute the article when sharing it, our team can clarify the terms.
• Modification requests: If you wish to request a change to the copyright terms of your article, we can help you understand the process and guide you through submitting a formal request.

By offering clear communication channels for copyright concerns, the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports aims to support our authors and readers in understanding their rights and responsibilities.

Additional Considerations

Fair Use Policy: The Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports acknowledges that certain uses of copyrighted material may fall under Fair Use provisions. These provisions allow limited use of copyrighted works without permission, provided the use is for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, or research and does not infringe on the commercial value of the original work.

Public Domain: Articles published in the journal will enter the public domain once the copyright term expires. At that point, the work can be freely used by anyone, although proper attribution to the original authors and publication is still encouraged.

By following these guidelines, the Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports ensures that authors, readers, and the research community at large understand the copyright terms that govern published works. This fosters a transparent and supportive publishing environment that is compliant with major indexing database regulations and global privacy standards.