Guidelines on Publishing Ethics

The journal Opera historica is committed to observing the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice for Journal Editors. → https://publicationethics.org/files/Code%20of%20Conduct.pdf 

Editorial board
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• The editorial board must have at least 9 members, not more than 2/3 from the publishing institution.
• The members must be experts on the early modern age. The editorial board meets at least 2x in a semester (4x times a year).
• Contact information: Jan Šimánek, HÚ, FFJU,  Branišovská 31a, 37500 ČB, simanek@ff.jcu.cz 

Statement of peer review policies
 

• The editorial board respects the freedom of expression and research (Chart of Fundamental Rights and Liberties of the Czech Republic, Article 15, §1, §2).
• All the contributions are subjected to a peer-review process
• Research articles are peer reviewed by two independent experts using a a single-blind peer-review process. Reviews in the review section are checked by the editorial board and external experts, if it is a specific topic. In case of doubt, the editorial board may require a third review but the final decision is taken by the editorial board. For conflicts see the section on complaints. 
• The evaluation process takes two months. The final decision is taken at the meeting of the editorial board which meets at least twice in a semester (i.e. 4x year). The decisions of the editorial board are based on the quality and suitability of the contribution for the journal and topicality of the subject.
• The editorial board checks the quality of the contributions, even if they come from the members of the editorial board. 

Obligations towards the authors
 

• Opera historica publishes only studies based on original research.
• The decision on which articles to accept or reject is based on the quality of the content, clarity of expression and suitability for the journal’s focus. It is based on the judgment of independent peer reviewers.
• The decision on which articles to accept or reject must not be influenced by the nationality, ethnicity, race, religion or gender of the authors.
• Opera historica publishes true data about the authorship of the published articles and other contributions.
• The peer-review form is available at the journal’s website, as well as the rules of the peer-review process.
• Opera historica checks plagiarism during the peer-review process and on the basis of COPE flowcharts (http://publicationethics.org/flowcharts) as well as cases of disputable authorship.
• The journal does not require any fees or charges from the authors.
• The author receives a printed copy of the whole issue, where he/she published, plus a pdf file with his/her article. 

Copyright, Access and Best practice
 

• The journal is published 2x a year (biannual).
• Back issues are made available online as open access, six-months after the publication date
• The access to digitalized back issues is not restricted.
• The authors of accepted contributions receive a non-exclusive license agreement (nevýhradní licenční smlouva).
• The contributions for the journal are not paid, but the author receives a printed issue of the journal, plus a pdf file of his/her article. No fees or charges are required from the authors.
• In case the journal is no longer published, the electronic backup issues will be available in the History institute, Faculty of Arts, University of South Bohemia, and the printed issues will be available in the Academic Library of the University of South Bohemia (Akademická knihovna Jihočeské university v Českých Budějovicích, Branišovská 31b, České Budějovice 370 05). 

Obligations towards Reviewers
 

• Reviews are treated confidentially.
• The editorial board is ready to assist the reviewers in the peer review process.
• The editorial board makes sure there is no conflict of interest before sending the manuscript for peer review.
• The editorial board respects the anonymity of the reviewers. 

Solutions of Violation of Ethical Rules
 

• The editorial board is bound to act, in case a violation of ethical rules (i.e. research misconduct) is revealed.
• The editorial board follows COPE rules on retractions.
• The editorial board checks out plagiarism on the basis of COPE flowcharts (http://publicationethics.org/flowcharts) as well as cases of disputable authorship. 

Complaints
 

• The authors and readers have the right to file a complaint, if it is well-grounded. In case, the complaint has been considered justified, a corrective action shall be taken.
• The editorial board decides about the acceptability of the complaint.
• The editorial board follows COPE flowcharts on complaints.
• Opera historica does not publish commercial advertisements.