Copyright and Licensing Policy

The Journal of Contemporary Social Issues (JCSI) is committed to promoting the free dissemination of scholarly research while protecting the rights of authors. This Copyright and Licensing Policy explains how copyright is handled, the licensing terms applied, and the rights and responsibilities of authors and readers.

Copyright Ownership

Authors retain copyright of their work upon publication in JCSI. By submitting a manuscript, authors grant the journal the non-exclusive right to publish the article in both online and print formats. This includes the right to display, distribute, and archive the work. Retaining copyright ensures that authors maintain control over their research while allowing the journal to disseminate it broadly.

Open Access Licensing

JCSI publishes all articles under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). This license allows anyone to copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt the work, including for commercial purposes, provided that proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and the journal. CC BY 4.0 facilitates maximum reuse of scholarly content while preserving recognition for the authors.

Author Rights

Under CC BY 4.0, authors can:

  • Share the work freely in institutional repositories, personal websites, or academic networks.

  • Reuse their own work in future publications, teaching materials, or presentations.

  • Grant permissions to others for reuse, provided attribution is maintained.

Authors must ensure that their submitted work is original, free of plagiarism, and does not infringe on the copyright of third parties. Any material not owned by the author, including images, tables, or datasets, must have proper permissions or licenses for reuse.

Reader Rights

Readers and users of JCSI content are free to access, download, copy, and redistribute the articles. They may also adapt, translate, or build upon the material for any lawful purpose, including commercial use, as long as the original authors and the journal are credited appropriately.

Responsibilities of Users

Users must provide proper attribution to the authors and the journal when reusing content. Attribution should include the author 's name, article title, journal name, volume, issue, year, and DOI or URL. Misuse of content, including uncredited copying or distribution, violates the licensing terms and may be subject to legal action.

Benefits of CC BY Licensing

The CC BY 4.0 license aligns with international open-access standards, enhances visibility and impact of research, ensures compliance with funding agency requirements, and encourages global knowledge sharing. By adopting CC BY, JCSI supports an open, transparent, and ethical publishing ecosystem.