Open Access Policy

Definition and Scope

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Open Access at GBP Publications refers to the free, immediate, and perpetual availability of full-text scholarly works on the public internet. This model permits any user to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of our publications without financial, legal, or technical barriers, subject only to proper attribution and the terms of the applicable Creative Commons license. Our OA program encompasses single-author monographs, multi-author volumes, textbooks, handbooks, and thematic research series, spanning all disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, business, law, education, and beyond.

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Licensing and Copyright

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All Open Access books published by GBP Publications are released under a Creative Commons license, typically CC BY 4.0 (Attribution International), unless a different license has been mutually agreed upon. This license allows others to share and adapt the work—even for commercial purposes—provided appropriate credit is given to the original author(s) and source. Alternative licenses, such as CC BY-NC (non-commercial) or CC BY-ND (no derivatives), may be applied when justified by the author and approved by the publisher, particularly in cases involving third-party content or sensitive subject matter.

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Authors retain copyright of their work and grant GBP Publications a non-exclusive license to publish and disseminate it in both digital and print formats. This ensures that while authors maintain control over their intellectual output, their work benefits from professional publishing standards, global discoverability, and long-term preservation.

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Funding and Publication Charges

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To sustain the high editorial and production standards associated with academic book publishing while supporting the Open Access model, GBP Publications charges a Book Processing Charge (BPC) for OA titles. This fee covers the costs associated with peer review coordination, editorial and linguistic editing, typesetting, digital publishing, DOI assignment, metadata distribution, global indexing, marketing, and archiving.

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We actively support transparency in pricing and offer detailed breakdowns of BPCs upon request. Authors or editors are encouraged to seek funding from institutional Open Access mandates, national or international research grants, or library consortia. GBP Publications is happy to work with authors to identify and secure eligible OA funding sources, and we are a compliant publisher with funders such as the European Research Council (ERC), UKRI, the Wellcome Trust, and those aligned with Plan S and cOAlition S.

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We also maintain a waiver policy to support scholars from low- and lower-middle-income countries or those facing demonstrable funding constraints. Partial or full waivers may be granted upon request and subject to review, without compromising the integrity of the peer review process.

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Discoverability and Dissemination

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GBP Publications is committed to ensuring maximum visibility, discoverability, and impact of Open Access works. All OA titles are assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and are catalogued in major scholarly repositories and metadata aggregators, including Google Scholar, DOAB (Directory of Open Access Books), OAPEN, Crossref, Scopus, and relevant discipline-specific databases. Our content is indexed and disseminated across global library networks, including through partnerships with institutional repositories and library platforms such as JSTOR, Project MUSE, and ProQuest (for metadata and preservation purposes).

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Print-on-demand and premium editions of Open Access titles are also made available for purchase, with proceeds used to support our OA program’s sustainability.

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Compliance with Funder and Institutional Policies

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GBP Publications is fully aligned with major Open Access policies and mandates from research funding bodies, institutions, and international coalitions. We support funder requirements for licensing, embargo periods, and repository deposit, and provide all necessary documentation to authors to assist in compliance reporting. Authors may also request support in depositing their manuscripts in institutional or subject-based repositories upon publication.

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We proactively monitor developments in global OA policy, including evolving frameworks such as the UNESCO Recommendation on Open Science, Horizon Europe guidelines, and national academic OA strategies, and we revise our practices accordingly to ensure continued alignment with international best practice.

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Preservation and Archiving

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Ensuring the permanence and integrity of Open Access publications is a cornerstone of our publishing mission. GBP Publications partners with recognized digital preservation services such as CLOCKSS, Portico, and institutional repositories to provide long-term access and redundancy. Our titles are archived in multiple independent preservation networks and backed by systematic version control to maintain the scholarly record.

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Author Support and Transparency

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We recognize that navigating the Open Access landscape can be complex, particularly for early-career researchers or those unfamiliar with OA funding mechanisms. To support our authors, GBP Publications offers dedicated guidance throughout the publishing journey—from proposal submission and licensing selection to final dissemination and impact tracking. We provide transparent and timely communication about fees, rights, and responsibilities, and we offer post-publication support to help authors maximize the visibility and impact of their work.

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Authors are encouraged to contact our editorial team with any questions regarding our Open Access model, licensing terms, or funding options. We are committed to evolving this policy in dialogue with the academic community, and welcome feedback that contributes to a more inclusive, equitable, and effective OA publishing environment.