Editorial Confidentiality Policy

DScholar Press International is committed to maintaining the confidentiality of manuscripts and all information exchanged during the editorial and publication process. Confidentiality protects the integrity of scholarly communication, supports impartial editorial decision-making, and safeguards the rights of authors, reviewers, editors, and other participants. This policy applies to all publications issued by the Press, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed books, scholarly monographs, edited volumes, conference proceedings, journals, working papers, research reports, and print and electronic publications.

All manuscripts submitted to the Press are treated as confidential documents from the time of submission until publication or rejection. Editors, reviewers, editorial board members, guest editors, and publishing staff shall not disclose manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, author information, or any unpublished material to individuals who are not directly involved in the editorial process. Access to confidential information is limited to those who require it to perform their editorial responsibilities.

Editors are responsible for protecting the confidentiality of authors, reviewers, and the editorial process. Information obtained during editorial assessment shall not be used for personal, professional, financial, or commercial advantage. Editors shall not discuss the content of manuscripts with unauthorised individuals or disclose information regarding the status, evaluation, or outcome of a submission except to the authors and individuals participating in the editorial process.

Reviewers are required to treat manuscripts and supporting materials as confidential documents. Manuscripts received for review shall not be copied, shared, distributed, discussed with others, or used for personal research or publication without the prior written permission of the Press. Reviewers shall not retain copies of manuscripts after completion of the review unless required by the editorial office for administrative purposes.

Authors are expected to respect the confidentiality of the editorial process. Reviewer reports, editorial communications, and correspondence received from the Press shall not be published, distributed, or disclosed without permission, except where disclosure is required by law or forms part of an approved open peer review process.

The Press recognizes that peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications follow different editorial evaluation procedures. Regardless of the evaluation process, all manuscripts and editorial communications remain confidential until a publication decision has been made. The review status of each publication is clearly identified after publication, but confidential editorial discussions, internal evaluations, reviewer identities in blinded review systems, and unpublished versions of manuscripts remain protected.

Editors, reviewers, and editorial staff must exercise caution when using electronic communication systems and digital technologies. Unpublished manuscripts, reviewer reports, confidential correspondence, personal information, and supporting documents shall not be uploaded to publicly accessible artificial intelligence platforms, cloud services, or other systems that cannot ensure confidentiality and data security. Confidential information shall be handled in accordance with applicable legal and data protection requirements.

Confidential information may be disclosed only where required by law, court order, regulatory authority, or during the investigation of publication misconduct. In such circumstances, disclosure shall be limited to the information necessary for the investigation or legal process and shall be handled in accordance with the Press's publication ethics policies.

DScholar Press International periodically reviews this policy to ensure consistency with international publishing standards and publication ethics. The Press is committed to protecting the confidentiality of all participants in the publication process and maintaining trust, fairness, and integrity throughout the editorial lifecycle.

Effective date: 25 June 2026
Last updated date: 25 June 2026