Charges Policy

The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) operates as an open-access journal under a sustainable publishing model that ensures the free dissemination of scientific knowledge. To cover the cost of editorial processing, peer review, publication, and digital preservation, the journal levies a transparent Article Processing Charge (APC).

“Transparency in publishing charges reflects our commitment to ethical open access and academic integrity.”

1. Overview of Publication Charges

Unlike subscription-based journals, ACEO does not charge readers or institutions for access. Instead, a one-time APC covers the costs associated with editorial management, production, DOI registration, indexing, and archiving.

• All accepted manuscripts are published immediately upon payment of APC.
• No submission or review fee is charged.
• Authors from low-income or developing countries may qualify for partial or full waivers (see Waiver Policy).

2. Current Article Processing Charges (APC)

These fees include editorial processing, typesetting, DOI registration, full-text hosting, and long-term archiving (LOCKSS/CLOCKSS/PKP PN).

3. Services Covered by the APC

The APC is a comprehensive charge that covers:

• Initial manuscript screening and plagiarism check.
• Coordination of double-blind peer review.
• Professional language editing and copyediting.
• XML/HTML/PDF conversion and metadata tagging.
• DOI registration and Crossref metadata submission.
• Inclusion in indexing databases (Google Scholar, DOAJ, Scilit, Dimensions, etc.).
• Long-term digital archiving and server maintenance.

4. Payment Methods

Authors may remit APC payments through secure international payment gateways. Accepted payment options include:

• Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX)
• PayPal and Payoneer
• Bank Wire Transfer (USD/INR)

5. APC Invoicing and Receipts

Upon payment confirmation, authors receive:

• Official digital invoice (PDF format).
• Payment confirmation receipt with transaction ID.
• VAT/GST compliance (if applicable to country of origin).

6. Discounts and Waivers

ACEO is committed to supporting equitable access to publishing opportunities. Discounts and waivers are available to:

• Early-career researchers and students.
• Authors from low-income or lower-middle-income countries (based on World Bank classification).
• Editorial board members, reviewers, and invited contributors.

All waiver applications are reviewed by the Editorial Office prior to payment request generation.

7. APC Transparency and Ethics

ACEO upholds transparency in all financial transactions. The APC does not influence editorial decisions. Editorial independence is maintained through strict separation of financial and editorial processes as per COPE and WAME guidelines.

• No fast-track or preferential acceptance based on payment.
• Peer review integrity remains unaffected by financial status.

8. Refunds and Withdrawal

Refunds are handled in accordance with ACEO’s Refund Policy and Withdrawal Policy. Authors withdrawing manuscripts before production may receive a partial refund; post-publication refunds are not permitted.

9. APC Review and Adjustments

APC rates are reviewed annually to align with international publishing costs, inflation, and operational improvements. Any changes are publicly announced at least one month before implementation.

10. Transparency to Indexing and DOAJ

ACEO discloses all APC details as required by DOAJ’s transparency policy. Fee details are also available via Crossref metadata and journal indexing portals.

11. Funding Support

Authors may use institutional or grant funding to pay APCs. The editorial team provides supporting documentation for funder reimbursement as needed. The journal accepts direct payments from universities or research institutions on behalf of authors.

12. Ethical Financial Governance

All payments are securely processed under IgMin Research Publications’ financial framework in compliance with international anti-fraud, GDPR, and PCI-DSS standards.

13. Contact Information

For any inquiries related to APCs, invoices, or financial documentation:

14. Conclusion

The Charges Policy of ACEO ensures transparent, ethical, and sustainable open-access publishing. By clearly communicating fees and services, ACEO fosters trust and inclusivity in the scientific publishing ecosystem.