Last updated: 23 January 2024
The Locke Science Publisher (“Locke Science”, “we”, “our”, “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and personal data of authors, reviewers, editors, readers, and visitors to our websites and related services.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we share it, and the choices you have. It applies to:
manuscripts and submissions sent to journal email addresses ending in @lockescience.press
communications with editorial offices
peer review and editorial management activities
visits to journal websites and related online services
Because privacy laws vary by country and region (including GDPR in the EU/EEA and other national data protection frameworks), this Policy is intended as a clear, general statement of our practices and does not constitute legal advice. We encourage you to consult local regulations if needed.
1. Data controller and contact
For purposes of this Policy, the primary controller of personal data processed in connection with Locke Science Publisher is:
Locke Science Publisher
Email: CustomerCare@LockeScience.press
2. What personal data we collect
We collect and process personal data that are necessary for operating our journals and providing editorial and publishing services. Depending on your role and interaction with Locke Science Publisher, we may collect the following categories of data.
2.1 Authors and co-authors
When you submit a manuscript or correspond with a journal, we may collect:
name
academic or professional affiliation(s)
position or title (if provided)
postal address (primarily for corresponding authors, if provided)
email address and other contact details
ORCID iD or similar researcher identifiers (if provided)
manuscript content, including any personal data you include in the text, acknowledgements, figures, tables, appendices, or biographical notes
funding information and declarations of competing interests
correspondence and editorial history related to your submission (e.g., decision letters, revision history)
2.2 Reviewers
When you are invited to review or agree to review a manuscript, we may collect:
name
academic or professional affiliation(s)
position or title (if provided)
email address and other contact details
areas of expertise, keywords, and reviewing interests (if provided)
review reports, recommendations, and comments
correspondence and review history
2.3 Editors and editorial board members
For editorial and governance purposes, we may collect:
name
academic or professional affiliation(s)
editorial role(s) (e.g., Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, Board Member)
email address and other contact details
short biographical details (for publication on the journal website, with your consent where applicable)
editorial assignments and decision records
2.4 Website visitors and readers
When you visit our websites, we may collect:
IP address and approximate location (depending on your browser and settings)
browser type, language, and operating system
referring pages, pages visited, and time spent on pages
date and time of visits
information you provide via contact forms, email links, or subscription/call-for-paper forms (e.g., name, email, message content)
We may use cookies or similar technologies for basic site functionality and anonymous usage statistics. See Section 6.
3. Purposes and legal bases for processing
We process personal data only for legitimate purposes related to operating our journals. Typical purposes include:
3.1 Editorial and peer review process
managing manuscript submissions and revisions
inviting, selecting, and communicating with reviewers
making editorial decisions and maintaining editorial records
publishing articles, including author names, affiliations, and acknowledgements
Legal basis (where applicable): performance of a contract or steps prior to entering a contract (handling your submission), and our legitimate interests in operating scholarly journals and maintaining academic standards.
3.2 Publication and dissemination
publishing accepted articles, including author names, affiliations, acknowledgements, and related information
assigning and displaying DOIs, volume/issue details, and metadata
making articles available under the CC BY 4.0 open access license
Legal basis: performance of a contract and our legitimate interests in disseminating scholarship.
3.3 Indexing, archiving, and discoverability
providing article metadata to indexing services, abstracting databases, repositories, and library systems
long-term archiving and preservation of the scholarly record
Legal basis: legitimate interests in ensuring discoverability, citation, and preservation of scholarly works.
3.4 Communication
responding to inquiries from authors, reviewers, readers, and institutions
sending editorial correspondence (review invitations, decisions, proofs, publication notices)
occasionally informing stakeholders about journal-related updates or calls for papers (where appropriate)
Legal basis: performance of a contract and legitimate interests in running journals and communicating with stakeholders.
3.5 Compliance and integrity
supporting publication ethics and research integrity processes (e.g., investigating plagiarism or misconduct)
handling complaints, disputes, or legal claims
complying with legal obligations where applicable
Legal basis: legitimate interests in protecting the integrity of the scholarly record and compliance with legal obligations.
4. How we share personal data
We do not sell personal data. We may share personal data with the following categories of recipients when necessary:
editors, editorial board members, and reviewers involved in manuscript evaluation (authors’ names, affiliations, and manuscript content are shared as needed; reviewers’ identities are normally kept confidential from authors, subject to the journal’s peer review model)
service providers supporting publication and operations (e.g., website hosting, email services, typesetting/production support)
indexing and abstracting services, repositories, and library systems that may display author names, article titles, affiliations, abstracts, and other metadata
institutions, funders, or relevant bodies where necessary for compliance or integrity investigations
regulatory or legal authorities if required by law or to respond to legal claims/investigations related to publication ethics or misconduct
We aim to share only the minimum personal data necessary for the relevant purpose and to use service providers that apply appropriate safeguards.
5. Data retention
We retain personal data for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Policy or as required by applicable law.
editorial and peer review records (including identities, decision letters, and correspondence) may be retained as part of operational accountability and the scholarly record
published articles and associated metadata (including author names and affiliations) are preserved indefinitely for citation, indexing, and archiving purposes
email correspondence and administrative records may be retained for a reasonable period to manage editorial history, respond to queries, and ensure accountability
If you request deletion of certain data, we will consider the request in light of our obligations to preserve the scholarly record and applicable legal requirements (see Section 8).
6. Cookies and analytics
Our websites may use cookies and similar technologies to:
enable basic site functionality and preferences
collect anonymous or aggregated statistics on page views, downloads, and navigation
help us understand how content is used and improve user experience
Depending on your browser settings and local regulations, you may receive a cookie notice and may configure your browser to block or delete cookies.
If we use third-party analytics services, these services may collect anonymized or pseudonymized usage data. We do not use analytics tools to intentionally identify individual visitors.
7. Security measures
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect personal data against unauthorized access, disclosure, accidental loss, alteration, or destruction. Measures may include secure servers, access controls, and appropriate handling practices for email and digital files.
No system can guarantee absolute security. Please use caution when transmitting information over the internet or by email.
8. Your rights
Depending on your jurisdiction and applicable law (e.g., GDPR in the EU/EEA), you may have some or all of the following rights:
right of access
right to rectification
right to erasure (in certain circumstances)
right to restriction of processing (in certain circumstances)
right to data portability (where applicable)
right to object (in certain circumstances)
Because we must preserve the integrity of the scholarly record and maintain essential editorial and publication archives, some rights (especially erasure and restriction) may be limited with respect to published articles, decision records, and core editorial files.
To exercise these rights, contact: CustomerCare@LockeScience.press.
If you believe your data protection rights have been violated, you may also have the right to lodge a complaint with a relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction.
9. Children’s data
Locke Science Publisher is intended for adult professionals, researchers, and higher-education students. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age defined by local law for data consent. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, please contact us so we can review and address the situation.
10. Third-party links
Our websites and articles may include links to third-party websites (e.g., institutional pages, external repositories). We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.
11. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in practices, legal requirements, or technology. Any updates will be posted with a revised “Last updated” date. Continued use of our services after changes indicates acknowledgment of the revised Policy.
12. Contact
For questions, requests, or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or the processing of your personal data, contact:
Locke Science Publisher
Email: CustomerCare@LockeScience.press