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.
Principles
BMU supports purpose limitation, data minimisation, accuracy, confidentiality, proportionality, transparency and reasonable security. Personal data should not be sold or used for unrelated commercial profiling.
Publishing data
Journal systems may process names, affiliations, contact details, ORCID identifiers, declarations, contribution statements, ethical information, reviewer records, editorial assignments, payment records and manuscript-related correspondence.
Peer-review confidentiality
Submitted manuscripts, review reports, reviewer identities where protected, editorial deliberations and unpublished findings are confidential. They must not be shared or used for personal, academic, financial or competitive advantage.
Website and technical data
Websites may process technical information required for security, sessions, analytics and service operation, such as IP addresses, browser information, device data, timestamps, referral information and cookies. Non-essential tracking should be accompanied by appropriate information and controls where required.
Service providers and cross-border processing
BMU may use hosting, email, payment, analytics, DOI, preservation, similarity-checking, production or other service providers. Providers should receive only information reasonably necessary for the relevant service, subject to appropriate contractual and technical safeguards.
Information may be stored or processed across national borders depending on service infrastructure.
Records and retention
Records should be retained for periods appropriate to their purpose, legal significance and relevance to research or publishing integrity. Material complaint, ethics or legal records may require longer retention than routine correspondence.
Deletion requests are not absolute where records are needed to preserve the scholarly record, establish authorship, prevent fraud, investigate misconduct, meet legal obligations or maintain correction and retraction history.
Data breaches
Suspected unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss or destruction should be contained, investigated and documented. Affected persons or authorities should be notified where applicable obligations require it.
AI and confidential data
Confidential manuscripts, reviewer information, identifiable participant data and protected personal information must not be supplied to unauthorised public AI systems. Convenience does not override confidentiality, privacy, copyright or contractual obligations.
Policy basis and interpretation
Adapted principally from JHWCR Policy 5 and confidentiality provisions throughout the suite. 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.