Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Pearl Academic Publishing is an academic publisher that operates open-access journals and related editorial services. We collect and process personal information from authors, reviewers, editors, and website visitors to support publishing activities.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information:

• Account Information: Name, email address, password hash, affiliation, ORCID iD, LinkedIn profile, and login identifiers from supported sign-in providers.
• Submission Information: Manuscripts, abstracts, keywords, figures, supplementary files, author lists, reviewer comments, editorial decisions, and publication metadata.
• Payment Information: APC payment status, transaction identifiers, receipt details, and related billing records.
• Communication Information: Email messages, support requests, editorial correspondence, and notices sent through the platform.
• Usage Information: IP address, browser type, pages viewed, downloads, timestamps, and other basic analytics or log data.

3. How We Collect Information

We collect information when you:

• Create or update an account
• Sign in using email/password, Google, or LinkedIn
• Submit a manuscript or review request
• Communicate with our editorial team
• Complete an APC payment
• Browse, view, or download content on the site

We may also receive limited information from service providers that help us operate the website, such as authentication, payment, email delivery, or hosting services.

4. How We Use Information

We use personal information for academic publishing and related operational purposes, including:

• Managing manuscript submissions and editorial workflows
• Coordinating peer review
• Communicating decisions, requests, and notifications
• Processing APC payments and generating receipts
• Publishing accepted content and preserving the scholarly record
• Preventing fraud, abuse, spam, and unauthorized access
• Improving site reliability, usability, and content delivery

5. Legal Basis and Consent

Where applicable law requires a legal basis for processing, we rely on one or more of the following: performance of a contract or pre-contractual steps, legitimate interests in operating an academic publishing service, compliance with legal obligations, consent, and public-interest scholarly communication.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our website may use cookies or similar technologies for essential site functionality, session management, authentication, preferences, and analytics. You can usually control cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not function correctly if cookies are disabled.

7. How We Share Information

We do not sell your personal information. We may share information only as needed to run the publishing process or comply with law, including with:

• Editors and Reviewers: To evaluate submissions and communicate decisions.
• Authors and Co-authors: To coordinate manuscript status and publication-related communications.
• Payment and Authentication Providers: To process payments and enable sign-in.
• Hosting and Technical Providers: To store and transmit website data securely.
• Indexing and Archiving Services: To make published work discoverable and preserved.
• Legal or Regulatory Authorities: When required by law or necessary to protect our rights, users, or the integrity of the platform.

8. Publicity of Published Content

When an article is accepted and published, bibliographic details, article content, author names, affiliations, and related metadata are intended to be public. Published articles may remain accessible as part of the scholarly record, even if an account is later deleted or deactivated.

9. Retention of Information

We retain personal and submission data for as long as necessary to operate the publishing process, preserve the scholarly record, comply with legal or accounting obligations, resolve disputes, and maintain publication history. Retention periods may vary depending on the nature of the data and our editorial obligations.

10. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards to protect information, including access controls, password hashing, and restricted administrative access. However, no online system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. You are responsible for protecting your own account credentials and using secure devices and networks where possible.

11. Your Rights

Depending on your location and the applicable law, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion or restriction of certain data
• Object to certain processing activities
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
• Request a copy of your data in a portable format, where applicable

Some information cannot be deleted or restricted if we need it to maintain the scholarly record, comply with law, complete an editorial process, or preserve publication integrity.

12. Social Sign-In

If you choose to sign in with Google or LinkedIn, we may receive basic profile information such as your name, email address, and provider identifier. We use this information only to authenticate your account, connect it to our system, and simplify login. Your use of those third-party services is also subject to their own privacy policies and terms.

13. Email Communications

We may send account notices, submission updates, payment receipts, password resets, or editorial communications to the email address associated with your account. You may not be able to opt out of essential service-related messages.

14. International Transfers

Because our services and providers may operate in different countries, your information may be transferred to and processed in locations outside your own. Where required, we take steps intended to provide appropriate protection for such transfers.

15. Children's Privacy

Our services are intended for academic and professional users. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate authorization. If you believe a child has provided us information without permission, please contact us so we can review the matter.

16. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The revised version will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the website after changes become effective means you accept the updated policy.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, contact us at privacy@pearlacademicpublishing.com or via the contact details on our website.

Last updated: May 14, 2026