Copyright and Licensing

Principles and scope

This page explains how copyright works at CJNCP, which Creative Commons licenses we use, what rights authors retain, how others may reuse content, and how third-party materials and data/software are handled. It also outlines the specific attribution format we recommend and provides examples for educators, clinicians, librarians, and developers who wish to build upon published work.

  • Each article page shows the authoritative license for that work.
  • Unless a stricter notice appears in a figure/table caption or credit line, the article license applies to all included content.
  • Authors are responsible for obtaining permissions for third-party materials and for labeling restrictions clearly.
  • Repository deposit and text-and-data mining (TDM) are supported where consistent with the article’s license and our Repository Policy.

Author rights and publishing agreement

Authors retain copyright in their articles. By submitting to CJNCP and accepting publication, authors grant the journal a non-exclusive right to publish, distribute, and preserve the version of record. Authors may:

  • Deposit the accepted manuscript (AAM) and, where the license allows, the version of record (VoR) in institutional/subject repositories with a full citation and a link to the VoR.
  • Reuse their figures, tables, and excerpts in future scholarly works, presentations, and teaching materials, respecting attribution and license terms.
  • Comply with funder/institutional mandates for open access and data sharing by depositing permitted versions and metadata.

When an article includes third-party content under different terms, that material is excluded from the blanket reuse permissions and must follow its own credit line.

Licenses we use

CJNCP uses Creative Commons (CC) licenses to make reuse rights clear. The license type applied to an article is displayed on its page and in the PDF. Typical licenses include permissive options that allow broad reuse with attribution. If multiple license options are available during acceptance, authors should select the option that aligns with funder and institutional requirements.

License concepts (plain language)

  • Attribution (BY): Reusers must credit the original authors and CJNCP, provide a link to the article, and indicate changes.
  • ShareAlike (SA): If you adapt the work, you must distribute your contributions under the same license.
  • NonCommercial (NC): Reuse is allowed for non-commercial purposes only; commercial reuse requires permission.
  • NoDerivatives (ND): You may copy and redistribute the work but not share adaptations; translations may count as adaptations.

The specific CC license printed on your article governs reuse. Always follow the license text linked from the article page.

How to attribute CJNCP content

Attribution should be reasonable and not misleading. Include author names, article title, journal name, license, and a persistent link to the version of record. When content is adapted, note the changes. Below is a recommended format:

Use case Attribution example
Figure reuse (unaltered) Figure from: Surname AB, Surname CD. “Article title.” Clinical Journal of Nursing Care and Practice. Year;Volume(Issue):pages/eLocator. ARTICLE_URL. Licensed under Creative Commons [License].
Adapted table Adapted from: Surname AB, Surname CD. “Article title.” CJNCP. Year;Volume(Issue):pages/eLocator. ARTICLE_URL. Changes: reformatted columns, updated labels. Licensed under Creative Commons [License].
Text excerpt in guideline Excerpted from Surname AB et al., “Article title,” CJNCP, Year. ARTICLE_URL. License: Creative Commons [License]. Minor edits for length/clarity.

Attribution tips

  • Provide a link to the version of record so readers see updates or corrections.
  • Keep credit lines close to the reused content (figure caption, table footnote, or endnote).
  • When space is limited (e.g., slides), include a short credit on the slide and a full reference at the end.

Third-party materials

Some articles include images, questionnaires, scales, or datasets owned by others. Authors must obtain permission if the intended reuse is not covered by fair use/dealing or the third-party license. Such materials should include a credit line indicating the rights holder and any restrictions (for example, “© Owner; used with permission; not covered by the article’s Creative Commons license”).

  • Clinical images and case content: Require consent and de-identification. Follow the consent/credit statement provided by authors.
  • Scales and instruments: Many are proprietary; verify usage rights and include required citations and notices.
  • Logos and trademarks: Use only when necessary for identification; avoid implying endorsement.

Data, code, and software

Where authors share data or code, the preferred practice is to place these materials in a trusted repository with a persistent identifier and to apply an appropriate license compatible with the article’s terms.

Recommended approaches

  • Data: Use community-recognized repositories; apply an open data license when possible; ensure de-identification and legal compliance.
  • Code/software: Use a recognized open-source license (e.g., MIT, Apache-2.0, GPL family) and cite repository URLs and tags/releases.
  • Materials transfer: For physical materials or proprietary datasets, include access instructions and terms.

Data and code licenses may differ from the article license; reusers should comply with the most restrictive applicable term for each component.

Text and data mining (TDM)

CJNCP supports lawful TDM of our open content consistent with the license displayed on each article. We expose machine-readable metadata on article pages, in sitemaps, and via the OAI-PMH endpoint (/oai) to assist harvesting by libraries and research tools. Please respect fair-use request rates and any third-party restrictions noted in credit lines.

Moral rights and integrity

Even where licenses allow adaptations, authors retain moral rights (where recognized) to be identified as creators and to object to derogatory treatment. Reusers should avoid implying author endorsement of derivative works and should not misrepresent or distort findings, images, or context.

Permissions and commercial reuse

When the article’s Creative Commons license does not permit your intended use (for example, a commercial adaptation under a NonCommercial license), please contact the rights holder (usually the authors) and the journal for permission guidance. Include the article title, authors, intended use, distribution channel, territory, and duration to expedite review.

Repository deposit and versioning

Our Repository Policy describes which versions authors may deposit and any conditions. In brief:

  • AAM: Deposit allowed with citation and link to the VoR; label as “author accepted manuscript.”
  • VoR: Deposit permitted where the article license allows; include the license notice and VoR link.
  • Embargoes: Not required for the open-access VoR; accepted-manuscript embargoes, if any, are listed in the repository policy.

Machine-readable licensing

To support indexing, discovery, and TDM, CJNCP embeds license information in:

  • Article HTML: A visible human-readable statement plus machine-readable metadata (e.g., rel="license" links).
  • PDF galleys: A license statement on the first or last page.
  • OAI-PMH feeds: License and rights fields where supported by the metadata format.
  • JSON-LD schema: The license property in structured data for article pages.

When authors correct or update articles, the license travels with the version of record; corrections note any changes to rights statements where necessary.

Practical reuse examples

Education and training

  • Use a CJNCP flowchart in a skills lab handout. Include attribution and the license, and indicate minor formatting changes.
  • Translate a patient-education table for local use; add a note: “Translated and adapted from …” and link to the VoR.

Clinical practice

  • Embed a checklist into a unit protocol under the article’s license; retain the credit line in the protocol.
  • Reuse a figure in grand rounds slides; place the credit in the slide footer and include a full citation at the end.

Research and software

  • Mine full text for QI interventions consistent with the license; cite the article set and provide links to the VoR.
  • Package an instrument as open-source software; include the article citation and a license-compatible notice.

Frequently asked questions

Do authors transfer copyright to CJNCP?

No. Authors retain copyright and grant CJNCP the rights needed to publish and disseminate the version of record under the chosen license.

Which Creative Commons license does CJNCP apply?

The article page shows the authoritative license. Authors may be offered options at acceptance; select the one required by your funder or institution. The license printed on the article governs reuse.

Can I use CJNCP materials commercially?

Commercial reuse depends on the article’s license. If the license allows commercial use, follow attribution and indicate changes. If it restricts commercial use, request permission from the rights holder.

How do I handle third-party content in my paper?

Obtain permissions where needed and include a credit line specifying any restrictions. If reuse isn’t allowed under the article’s license, the credit line must say so clearly.

Can I post my paper on a repository or personal site?

Yes. Follow the Repository Policy and your article’s license. Include a citation, the license, and a link to the version of record.

Do figures and tables follow the same license as the article?

Yes, unless a figure/table caption or credit line states otherwise. Always check captions for exceptions.

May I translate a CJNCP article?

Where the license permits, translations are welcome. Credit the original, indicate that the text is a translation, and link to the VoR.

What about datasets or code linked from the article?

Datasets and code may carry different licenses. Reusers must comply with the terms attached to each component in addition to the article license.

Open Access Policy • Repository Policy • Privacy Statement • Withdrawal Policy • Article Processing Charges • Waiver Policy