At Synergy Publishers, we are committed to fostering a publishing environment that reflects the principles of Open Science, integrity, inclusivity, and accessibility. Our licensing and copyright policy ensures that authors, readers, and the wider community benefit from research in transparent and meaningful ways.

Author Rights and Copyright Retention

• Authors publishing with Synergy Publishers retain full copyright of their work.
• By default, we do not require the transfer of copyright to the publisher. Instead, authors grant Synergy Publishers a license to publish, archive, and disseminate their work in both print and digital formats.
• This approach allows authors to maintain control over their intellectual property while ensuring their work reaches the widest possible audience.

Licensing Terms

• All articles published by Synergy Publishers are made available under Creative Commons (CC) licenses. Our preferred default is the CC BY 4.0 (Attribution International) license.
• Under CC BY 4.0:
  • Authors allow others to copy, distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon their work, even for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given to the original author(s).
  • This license maximizes the visibility and reusability of scholarly work while ensuring authors receive due recognition.

• In specific cases, where required by funding bodies or disciplinary norms, alternative CC licenses (e.g., CC BY-NC, CC BY-ND) may be considered, provided they align with ethical and open-access standards.

Open Access and Knowledge Sharing

• All Synergy Publishers journals operate under a full open-access model, making scholarly content freely available to all readers without subscription or paywalls.
• We strongly believe that knowledge should not be restricted by financial or geographic barriers. educators, policymakers, and the public are encouraged to access, share, and apply research findings for educational, professional, and societal benefit.
• By adopting an open-access model, Synergy Publishers actively contributes to reducing inequalities in access to knowledge and empowering underrepresented communities in global research.

Ethical Use and Attribution

• Proper attribution is a cornerstone of ethical publishing. Users of Synergy Publishers’ content must give clear credit to the author(s), provide a link to the license, and indicate if any changes were made.
• Misuse of content, including plagiarism, misrepresentation, or unethical reuse, is strictly prohibited and will be addressed in accordance with international academic ethics guidelines (COPE and ICMJE).

Compliance with Funding and Institutional Mandates

• Our licensing policy fully complies with the requirements of major research funders and international open-access initiatives, including Plan S, Horizon Europe, and the policies of the NIH, Wellcome Trust, and UKRI.
• Authors can deposit published versions of their work in institutional repositories, disciplinary archives, and personal websites without restrictions, hence, ensuring maximum dissemination and compliance with open-access mandates.

Third-Party Content and Permissions

• Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use copyrighted material (e.g., images, figures, or data) not covered under open licenses.
• Such permissions must be documented and acknowledged within the publication. Synergy Publishers assists authors in navigating this process to ensure compliance with legal and ethical requirements.

Commercial Use and Reprints

• Articles under CC BY 4.0 can be used commercially, provided that the original authors are credited.
• For reprints, translations, or adaptations intended for commercial purposes (e.g., educational books, industry reports), users must adhere strictly to the license terms and maintain the integrity of the original work.

Publisher’s Responsibilities

• Synergy Publishers serves as a custodian of the scholarly record, ensuring long-term preservation of and accessibility of content through recognised repositories and indexing services.
• We are committed to transparency in licensing, helping authors and readers clearly understand their rights and obligations.
• Updates or revisions to this policy will be communicated openly and in line with evolving best practices in academic publishing.

Respect for Cultural and Religious Values

In line with our ethical principles, Synergy Publishers respect cultural, religious, and societal values in scholarly communication. While upholding academic freedom and open science, we aim to foster inclusivity and sensitivity across diverse global research communities.

Statement of Purpose

This policy is designed to balance the rights of authors with the needs of the wider research community and society. By supporting open access, safeguarding author ownership, and enforcing ethical standards, Synergy Publishers create a transparent, fair, and impactful publishing environment for scholars, practitioners, and the public worldwide.