Overview
C-SQD is designed to accommodate diverse scholarly publishing needs through a flexible, author-friendly licensing model. Our approach ensures authors retain maximum control over their work while enabling C-SQD to fulfill its mission as both a platform for receiving early feedback and as an archival publisher.
Author Rights and Licensing
When submitting to C-SQD, authors:
- Retain full copyright of their work
- Grant C-SQD a perpetual, non-exclusive license to distribute their manuscript
- Maintain the right to publish their work elsewhere, including traditional journals
- Certify they have the right to grant this license
How Authors Use C-SQD
Authors may use the C-SQD platform in multiple ways:
1. As an improved alternative to preprint servers (arXiv/bioRxiv/SocArXiv/etc.)
Authors use our platform to:
- Establish priority for new ideas
- Receive structured, constructive peer-review from a diverse reviewer network
- Gain visibility for their work across disciplinary boundaries
- Share valuable negative results or incremental findings
- Improve their manuscript before submission to traditional journals
In this scenario, C-SQD functions as an enhanced preprint server with our innovative review mechanism. After receiving feedback, authors can revise their work and submit it to traditional journals, as our non-exclusive license allows for subsequent publication elsewhere.
2. As a final archival publisher
Authors can choose C-SQD as their terminal publication venue, benefiting from:
- All advantages of our peer review system
- Permanent archiving and preservation through our digital preservation infrastructure
- Stable, persistent identifiers for reliable citation
- Continued community engagement through our challenge system
- Freedom from restrictive publisher copyright transfers
In this scenario, C-SQD serves as the final publication destination. While authors technically retain the right to publish elsewhere (due to our non-exclusive license), they would typically not republish the same material in traditional journals, as the work is already permanently available through C-SQD.
One License, Multiple Use Cases
Our single non-exclusive license model elegantly accommodates both publishing pathways:
- Flexibility for authors: Authors aren't locked into their initial choice and can decide later whether to publish elsewhere
- Simplified submission process: One straightforward licensing agreement covers all use cases
- Future-proof publishing: As the scholarly publishing landscape evolves, our approach adapts to changing author needs
Archival Commitment
For authors using C-SQD as their final publication venue, we demonstrate our commitment to archival quality through:
- Integration with digital preservation networks (CLOCKSS, LOCKSS)
- Permanent DOIs for stable citation
- Robust versioning to track the evolution of manuscripts
- Clear policies on corrections and retractions
- Long-term accessibility guarantees
Publishing with C-SQD and Traditional Journals
Authors should be aware that while our license permits republication elsewhere, traditional journals have varying policies regarding prior publication:
- Many journals now accept submissions previously shared as preprints
- Some journals may request certain modifications or citations to the C-SQD version
- A few journals, particularly in certain fields, may still have restrictions on prior publication
We recommend authors check specific journal policies if they plan to subsequently submit their C-SQD manuscript to a traditional journal.
The C-SQD License Text
When submitting to C-SQD, authors agree to the following license terms:
I grant C-SQD a perpetual, non-exclusive license to distribute this article.
I certify that I have the right to grant this license.
I understand that submissions cannot be completely removed once accepted.
I understand that C-SQD reserves the right to reclassify or reject any submission.
This straightforward license ensures C-SQD can maintain your work as part of the scholarly record while preserving your freedom as an author to use your work however you choose in the future.
Conclusion
Our licensing approach prioritizes author freedom, work preservation, and flexible publishing pathways. Whether you use C-SQD as a stepping stone to traditional publication or as your final archival publisher, our non-exclusive licensing model supports your scholarly communication goals while maintaining the integrity of the scientific record.