Terms and Conditions
Welcome to Annals of Surgery (ANNALSOPEN) ("the Journal", "we", "our", or "us"). These Terms and Conditions govern your access to and use of www.aosopen.com ("Website").
By accessing, browsing, submitting manuscripts, or otherwise using this Website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you should discontinue use of the Website.
Use of the Website
The Website is intended to provide scholarly publishing services, editorial information, journal content, and resources for authors, reviewers, editors, and readers.
You agree to use the Website only for lawful purposes and in a manner that does not interfere with the operation, security, or availability of the Website or infringe upon the rights of others.
Intellectual Property
Unless otherwise stated, all content available on this Website—including text, graphics, logos, images, website design, software, editorial materials, and other content—is the property of Annals of Surgery Open or its licensors and is protected by applicable intellectual property laws.
Unauthorized reproduction, modification, distribution, commercial exploitation, or republication of Website content is prohibited without prior written permission, except where expressly permitted by applicable licensing terms.
Open Access Articles
Articles published as Open Access remain subject to the applicable Creative Commons license selected by the Journal.
Authors retain the rights granted under the applicable license, and users may share, copy, distribute, or reuse Open Access content only in accordance with the terms of that license and with appropriate attribution to the original publication.
Manuscript Submission
Authors submitting manuscripts to the Journal represent and warrant that:
- The submitted work is original.
- The manuscript has not been published elsewhere unless clearly disclosed.
- The submission is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal unless permitted by the Journal's editorial policies.
- All listed authors have approved the submission.
- Necessary ethical approvals and informed consent have been obtained where applicable.
- Any conflicts of interest and funding sources have been appropriately disclosed.
Submission of a manuscript does not guarantee acceptance for publication.
Peer Review
All submitted manuscripts may undergo editorial assessment and peer review according to the Journal's editorial policies.
Editorial decisions are made independently based on scientific quality, originality, ethical standards, and relevance to the Journal's scope. The Journal reserves the right to reject manuscripts at any stage of the editorial process.
Article Processing Charges (APCs)
Where applicable, Article Processing Charges (APCs) become payable only after a manuscript has been accepted for publication.
Payment of APCs does not influence editorial evaluation or publication decisions. Information regarding current publication fees is available on the Journal's Website.
Privacy
Your use of this Website is also governed by the Journal's Privacy Policy. By using the Website or submitting information, you consent to the collection and processing of personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
External Links
The Website may contain links to third-party websites, repositories, indexing services, or other external resources.
These links are provided solely for convenience. Annals of Surgery does not endorse or assume responsibility for the content, privacy practices, accuracy, or availability of any third-party websites. Users access external websites at their own risk.
Permitted Linking
You may create a hyperlink to the Website provided that:
- The link is accurate and not misleading.
- It does not imply endorsement or affiliation where none exists.
- The linking website does not contain unlawful, defamatory, offensive, fraudulent, or infringing material.
- The link does not damage the reputation or integrity of the Journal.
The Journal reserves the right to request removal of any link that it considers inappropriate.
Disclaimer
The Website and all content are provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis.
While Annals of Surgery makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, we do not guarantee that the Website will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, complete, or free from inaccuracies.
Scientific and medical information published in the Journal is intended for educational and research purposes and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Annals of Surgery, its editors, editorial board members, reviewers, employees, affiliates, service providers, and licensors shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from:
- Use or inability to use the Website;
- Reliance on information published on the Website;
- Website interruptions or technical failures;
- Unauthorized access to user information;
- Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in published content; or
- Use of third-party websites linked from this Website.
Nothing in these Terms excludes liability where exclusion is prohibited by applicable law.
Changes to the Website and Terms
We reserve the right to modify, suspend, discontinue, or update any part of the Website, its services, editorial policies, or published information at any time without prior notice.
Annals of Surgery may revise these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Updated versions will be published on this page together with the revised Effective Date. Continued use of the Website after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms and Conditions.
Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the applicable laws governing the operations of Annals of Surgery, without prejudice to any mandatory legal rights available under applicable jurisdiction.
Contact Information
For questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact:
Editorial Office Annals of Surgery (ANNALSOPEN)
Website: www.aosopen.com
Email: info@aosopen.com