Privacy Policy

WK Publishers ("WK Publishers," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of visitors, authors, reviewers, editors, subscribers, and other users of our website, wkpublishers.online, together with any associated journal websites, manuscript submission systems, editorial platforms, and related services (collectively, the "Services").

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect, and, where necessary, share personal information when you use our Services.

By accessing or using our website or Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with WK Publishers and our Services.

General Website Users

When you visit our website or contact us, we may collect information such as:

• Full name
• Email address
• Telephone number or other contact information, where voluntarily provided
• Information included in messages or inquiries submitted through our contact forms or email
• Technical and usage information relating to your interaction with our website

Authors and Manuscript Contributors

When you submit a manuscript, register for an account, or otherwise participate in the publication process, we may collect information necessary to administer the submission, editorial, peer-review, and publication process, including:

• Full name
• Email address
• Institutional or organizational affiliation
• Department and professional position, where applicable
• Country or location
• ORCID or other researcher identifiers, where voluntarily provided or required
• Contact information
• Manuscript files and supplementary materials
• Author and contributor details
• Correspondence relating to the manuscript
• Information relevant to editorial, peer-review, publication, licensing, invoicing, or publication administration

Reviewers, Editors, and Editorial Board Members

If you serve as a reviewer, editor, or editorial board member, we may collect professional information required to manage your role, including:

• Name and contact details
• Institutional affiliation
• Academic or professional expertise
• Biography or profile information
• Reviewer comments and editorial correspondence
• Information relating to editorial assignments and activities

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website or use our online systems, certain technical information may be collected automatically through server logs, cookies, and similar technologies.

This may include:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address
• Browser type and version
• Device and operating system information
• Internet service provider or domain information
• Referring and exit pages
• Pages viewed and interactions with our Services
• Date and time of access
• Log and security information

We use this information primarily for website operation, security, analytics, troubleshooting, and improving our Services.

2. How We Collect Information

Most personal information is provided directly by you when you interact with WK Publishers. Information may be collected when you:

• Register for an account or use a manuscript submission system
• Submit a manuscript or supplementary files
• Participate in the peer-review or editorial process
• Complete a contact form
• Communicate with us by email or other available communication channels
• Subscribe to newsletters or other communications
• Participate in surveys, feedback requests, or other voluntary activities
• Visit or interact with our website
• Provide professional information for an editorial board, reviewer, or author profile

We may also receive limited information from third-party services that you choose to connect or use in connection with our Services, where permitted by applicable law.

3. How We Use Your Information

WK Publishers may use personal information for purposes including:

• Operating, maintaining, and improving our website and publishing Services
• Processing inquiries and responding to communications
• Managing manuscript submissions
• Facilitating editorial assessment and peer review
• Communicating manuscript decisions and revision requests
• Managing publication, production, and licensing processes
• Maintaining author, reviewer, editor, and user accounts
• Providing customer and technical support
• Processing applicable payments or publication-related transactions
• Sending service-related communications
• Sending newsletters or other communications where you have subscribed or where otherwise permitted by applicable law
• Maintaining the security and integrity of our systems
• Detecting, preventing, and investigating fraud, abuse, security incidents, or other unlawful activities
• Meeting legal, regulatory, contractual, or administrative obligations
• Analyzing website usage and improving the design and performance of our Services

We aim to use personal information only for legitimate and relevant purposes connected with the operation of our publishing activities and Services.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Where applicable data protection laws require a legal basis for processing personal information, WK Publishers may process personal information based on one or more of the following:

• Your consent
• The performance of a contract or requested service
• Compliance with legal obligations
• Our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving our publishing and editorial Services
• Other lawful grounds permitted under applicable data protection laws

Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent, subject to applicable legal or contractual requirements.

5. Sharing of Personal Information

WK Publishers does not sell personal information as a commercial product.

We may share information where reasonably necessary to operate our Services, including with:

• Editors, reviewers, and editorial board members involved in the manuscript evaluation process
• Service providers that support website hosting, technology, communications, security, analytics, payment processing, or other operational services
• Professional advisers, auditors, or other service providers where necessary
• Authorities or other parties where disclosure is required by law or necessary to protect legal rights, safety, security, or the integrity of our Services
• A successor organization in connection with a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or transfer of all or part of our operations

Information shared with service providers should be limited to what is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

6. Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your location and the applicable law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These may include the right to:

• Request access to personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of personal information in certain circumstances
• Request restriction of certain processing activities
• Object to certain types of processing
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Request information about how your personal information is collected and used
• Request data portability where applicable

Some rights may be subject to legal limitations or exceptions. We may also need to retain certain information where necessary for legitimate business purposes, legal obligations, publication records, dispute resolution, security, or other lawful reasons.

To make a privacy-related request, please contact us using the contact details provided at the end of this Privacy Policy.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including the administration of manuscript submissions, peer review, publication, user accounts, legal obligations, dispute resolution, recordkeeping, and security.

Academic publishing may require the retention of certain editorial and publication records for extended periods to preserve the integrity, history, and scholarly record of published research.

When information is no longer required, we may delete, anonymize, or securely archive it in accordance with applicable requirements and our operational practices.

8. Cookies and Similar Technologies

WK Publishers may use cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve our website and online Services. Cookies are small files that may be stored on your device when you visit a website. Depending on how our Services are configured, we may use the following categories of cookies:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the operation of certain website features, including security, authentication, and session management.

Functionality Cookies

These cookies may help remember your preferences and improve your experience when using our Services.

Performance and Analytics Cookies

These cookies may help us understand how visitors use our website, identify technical issues, and improve website performance and content.

Advertising or Targeting Cookies

If advertising or marketing technologies are used on our Services, they may collect information about browsing activity to support relevant advertising or marketing activities.

You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of our Services.

9. Security

WK Publishers takes reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, loss, or destruction.

Our security practices may include:

• Access controls designed to limit access to authorized personnel
• Secure authentication and account management practices
• Encryption or secure transmission technologies where appropriate
• Secure hosting and firewall protections where available
• System monitoring and security controls
• Staff and administrator responsibilities relating to the appropriate handling of information
• Session management and automatic time-out features where applicable

However, no website, online platform, transmission method, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. While we take reasonable steps to protect information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

10. Email Communications and Marketing

WK Publishers may send communications relating to:

• Manuscript submissions and editorial decisions
• Peer-review activities
• Account or service notifications
• Publication and production updates
• Invoices or other transaction-related communications
• Newsletters, announcements, or publishing opportunities, where permitted

You may opt out of non-essential marketing communications by using the unsubscribe mechanism included in the relevant communication or by contacting us directly.

Please note that you may continue to receive important service-related or transactional communications where necessary for the administration of your account, manuscript, publication, or other requested Services.

11. Anti-Spam Policy

WK Publishers recognizes that unsolicited bulk communications can be disruptive and harmful. We aim to take reasonable measures to prevent the misuse of our communication systems and to comply with applicable requirements relating to electronic communications.

Where marketing or promotional email communications include an unsubscribe option, users may request to stop receiving future non-essential promotional messages.

We may use automated or other reasonable methods to detect spam, fraudulent messages, malicious content, or abuse directed toward our systems.

12. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website or Services may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, tools, or services. WK Publishers is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, security, or data-handling practices of external websites or services that are not operated by us.

We encourage users to review the privacy policies and terms of any third-party service before providing personal information.

13. International Data Transfers

WK Publishers may operate or use service providers in different countries. As a result, personal information may be processed or stored in countries other than the country in which you reside.

Where required by applicable law, we will take appropriate measures designed to protect personal information transferred internationally.

14. Children's Privacy

Our Services are primarily intended for researchers, authors, academics, professionals, institutions, and other individuals involved in scholarly communication.

WK Publishers does not knowingly collect personal information from children in violation of applicable law. If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us without appropriate authorization, please contact us so that we can review the matter and take appropriate action.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

WK Publishers may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, Services, legal requirements, or other operational developments. Any updated version will be posted on this page with a revised "Last Updated" date.

Where a change is significant and notification is required by applicable law, we may provide additional notice through our website, email, or another appropriate communication method.

Your continued use of our Services after the updated Privacy Policy becomes effective may be subject to the revised policy, to the extent permitted by applicable law.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way WK Publishers handles personal information, please contact us through our website: WK PublishersContact WK Publishers

You may also contact us using the contact information made available on our website.

We will make reasonable efforts to respond to legitimate privacy-related inquiries and requests in accordance with applicable law.