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Open access policies

Open access Elements

We offer authors the option of publishing their Elements as open access to allow them to make their works freely available online without compromising any aspect of the publishing process.

Cambridge Elements is a new concept in academic publishing, a primarily digital product combining the best features of journals and books.

We support open access for Elements in line with our commitment to explore publishing models that are financially sustainable, scalable and in accordance with our mission to disseminate knowledge at the highest international levels of excellence.

We facilitate OA in Elements both through our Gold OA publishing programme and through our Green OA policy.

Gold Open Access Elements

Under this model, the author (or a funder) pays a processing charge and an online version of the Element is published under a Creative Commons licence. Print and other digital formats (such as a Kindle version) are available for purchase.

We encourage interested authors to contact the relevant subject editor  to discuss options.

We now allow Elements to be converted to open access retrospectively. Please contact your Cambridge editor  for more information.

Gold OA Elements - Frequently asked questions

Green Open Access policy for Elements

Many authors wish to post or archive copies of their work on their website or in institutional repositories, to make them freely available for others to read. Funders and other organisations also often require research funded by them to be made freely available open access under a Creative Commons licence.

If your funder or institution requires you to publish your research under a Creative Commons licence, please note that you will need to publish your Element Gold Open Access (as described above) to comply with this requirement.

If you do not publish Gold Open Access, you may be able to share some versions of your manuscript online in accordance with our Green Open Access policy below.

Please note: This policy replaces all previous Green Open Access policies, and the terms of this policy apply to all Elements retrospectively.

For example, if an author has previously signed a publishing agreement that is more restrictive in how they may share pre-final versions of their Element than our current Green Open Access policy, this policy supersedes the relevant conditions in their publishing agreement.

Terms and definitions

We use the following terms and definitions in this policy:

  • Preprint: An early version of a manuscript created prior to the version submitted for publication. Theses and dissertations are considered to be preprints. See our full policy on preprints.
  • Submitted Manuscript Under Review (SMUR): Any version of the manuscript that is under formal review for publication.
  • Accepted Manuscript (AM): The version of the manuscript that has been accepted by Cambridge University Press. A manuscript is considered accepted when the author is contacted by the Series Editor to begin the production process. This version may include revisions resulting from peer review but may be subject to further modification by Cambridge University Press (for example, copy editing and typesetting).
  • Version of Record (VoR): The version that is formally published. The VoR includes any post-publication corrections.
What authors may post to websites

Authors may share versions of their Elements manuscripts online in accordance with the following terms:

  • Preprint: Anywhere, under any licence terms (including CC licences).
  • SMUR: Anywhere, with the same licence terms as in the author’s contract with Cambridge.
  • AM: Not permitted unless the Element is published Gold Open Access.
  • VoR: Not permitted unless the Element is published Gold Open Access.

What to do when sharing manuscripts online

When sharing SMURs online under this policy, we require:

  • If the Element has not yet been published, a clear statement that the material has been submitted for publication and is under review by Cambridge University Press.
    • If the forthcoming Element has been given a DOI, this should be included in this statement.
    • Once the Element’s VoR is published by Cambridge, authors should update any versions they have shared online elsewhere with a DOI-based link to Cambridge Core.
  • For all Elements that have already been published on Cambridge Core, a link to the Element’s VoR on Cambridge Core with a DOI-based link.
  • A clear statement about the licence terms under which the author has shared this version of their article.

Example statements are:

  • This material has been submitted for publication by Cambridge University Press, and a revised form will be published in [Element Series Title] by [Author] [http://doi.org/XXX, if available]. This version is free to view and download for private research and study only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © insert copyright holder.
  • This material has been published in revised form in [Element Series Title] by [Author] [http://doi.org/XXX]. This version is free to view and download for personal use only. Not for re-distribution, re-sale or use in derivative works. © insert copyright holder.

Please note: This policy does not permit you to share your AM or VoR online, unless your Element is published Gold Open Access under a Creative Commons licence.