This page states BMU-wide publishing principles. It does not replace journal-specific author guidelines, peer-review descriptions, fee schedules or discipline-specific ethical requirements. Operational claims apply only where implemented by the relevant journal or publisher system.
General principle
The Version of Record should remain identifiable and changes should not be made silently where they materially affect the meaning or status of a publication. The appropriate remedy depends on the nature, scope and effect of the problem.
Corrections and addenda
A correction may address a material error that does not invalidate the principal findings. An addendum may provide important additional information that appropriately supplements the original record without rewriting its history.
Expressions of concern
An expression of concern may be appropriate where there is a serious unresolved issue and readers need to be alerted while an investigation or evidence review remains incomplete. It should not be used casually or as a substitute for progressing an inquiry.
Retractions
Retraction may be appropriate where findings are unreliable because of major error or misconduct, where publication is redundant in a materially misleading way, where peer review was fundamentally compromised, or where serious ethical problems invalidate continued reliance on the work.
Retraction ordinarily preserves bibliographic information and provides a clear notice explaining the reason to the extent law, privacy and fairness permit.
Withdrawal and pre-publication action
Before formal publication, a manuscript or accepted article may be withdrawn, rejected or have acceptance rescinded where a serious integrity, authorship, legal, ethical or peer-review problem emerges.
Redaction and exceptional removal
Removal of full text should be exceptional and may be necessary for binding legal orders, grave privacy breaches, unlawful content or a substantial immediate safety risk. Where possible, bibliographic metadata and an explanation of the action should remain visible.
Authorship and agreement
Author agreement is desirable but is not required for a journal to take necessary action to protect readers and the scholarly record. Authors should ordinarily be given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final notice is issued.
Linking and accessibility
Post-publication notices should be clearly labelled, dated, freely accessible and linked to the affected article. Where technically possible, the article should also link back to the notice so that readers can determine its current status.
Policy basis and interpretation
Adapted principally from JHWCR Policy 32 and the Post-Publication Remedy Decision Framework. The BMU version generalises journal-specific material into a publisher framework and removes details that should remain title-specific. Where a journal publishes a more specific requirement that is consistent with these principles, the journal-specific rule governs that journal's submissions.
Questions about this framework may be sent to info@bmuventures.com.