Open Access Policy

The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) is committed to the principles of open access publishing. We believe that unrestricted access to peer-reviewed scientific research accelerates discovery, fosters collaboration, and democratizes knowledge for the advancement of medicine and society.

“Open Access ensures that no barrier stands between innovation and the global exchange of ideas.”

Definition of Open Access

Open Access (OA) means that all content is freely available to users without subscription, registration, or access fees. Anyone may read, download, copy, distribute, print, or link to the full text of articles published in ACEO, provided that proper attribution is given to the authors and the source.

Licensing Terms

ACEO publishes all content under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). Under this license, users are free to:

  • Share — Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
  • Adapt — Remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercially.

The only condition is attribution: Users must give appropriate credit to the authors, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.

Author Copyright and Rights

Authors retain full copyright ownership of their work. By submitting to ACEO, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive license to publish and disseminate their work under open access terms.

  • Authors may archive preprints, postprints, and final published versions in repositories.
  • Authors may reuse content in derivative works, such as book chapters or lectures, with citation to the original publication.
  • No restrictions are imposed on distribution through institutional or personal websites.

Archiving and Preservation

To ensure long-term digital preservation and global accessibility, ACEO partners with major archiving systems including:

All published articles are permanently archived, even in the event of journal closure.

Compliance with Funders and Institutions

ACEO’s open access model satisfies the requirements of funding agencies and research institutions that mandate open access publication. This includes compliance with:

  • Plan S and cOAlition S mandates
  • National Institutes of Health (NIH)
  • European Research Council (ERC)
  • UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
  • Wellcome Trust and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Repository Policy

Authors are encouraged to deposit their work in open repositories. ACEO fully supports both Green Open Access (self-archiving) and Gold Open Access (publisher-hosted) models. The following versions may be shared:

Version Archiving Permission Condition
Preprint ✔ Allowed Anytime prior to peer review.
Accepted Manuscript ✔ Allowed After acceptance with DOI link.
Published Version ✔ Allowed With citation and CC BY 4.0 notice.

Indexing and Interoperability

To enhance discoverability and citation, ACEO ensures interoperability through machine-readable metadata and standardized identifiers. Articles are indexed and discoverable via:

Benefits of Open Access

  • Increased citation and global visibility.
  • Immediate access for clinicians, students, and the public.
  • Enhanced collaboration between developing and developed regions.
  • Alignment with ethical principles of knowledge sharing.

Article Processing Charges (APCs)

To sustain the open access model, a nominal Article Processing Charge (APC) is applied to accepted manuscripts. The APC covers peer review, editorial management, and digital preservation. Authors from low-income regions may apply for APC waivers.

Ethical Open Access

ACEO does not engage in predatory publishing practices. Every submission undergoes rigorous peer review by qualified experts. The journal’s editorial processes, APC information, and waiver policies are fully transparent.

Open Access and Licensing Transparency

Each article page clearly displays:

  • The Creative Commons license logo and link.
  • Article DOI and Crossref metadata.
  • Open access statement in machine-readable metadata for harvesting.

Reader and Institutional Rights

Readers, libraries, and institutions are free to:

  • Include ACEO articles in teaching or institutional repositories.
  • Link to or reuse content under the CC BY license.
  • Distribute or translate articles with proper attribution.

Conclusion

The Open Access Policy of ACEO reinforces the journal’s commitment to ethical, equitable, and transparent scientific communication. By eliminating barriers to access, ACEO ensures that orthopaedic knowledge benefits clinicians, researchers, and patients worldwide.