Legal

Privacy Notice

Last updated: 23 June 2026

1. Who we are

The Journal of Scientific Culture and Research ("JOSCR") is operated by Nikhil Bhardwaj ("the Publisher"). The Publisher is the data controller for personal data processed through the JOSCR website and editorial workflows.

2. Personal data we collect

• Identity & contact: name, email, affiliation, ORCID if provided.
• Manuscript data: submitted manuscripts, co-author details, cover letters, review correspondence.
• Newsletter: email address and subscription state.
• Support: messages you send us.
• Technical: IP address, device/browser metadata, basic usage telemetry, and essential cookies.
• Payment metadata: we do not see your card details. Paddle, our payment processor, handles them and shares transaction metadata (amount, country, transaction ID) with us.

3. Why we use it

• Operate the website and the peer-review workflow (contract / legitimate interests).
• Communicate about submissions, decisions, and editorial matters (contract).
• Send the newsletter where you have opted in (consent).
• Process the Article Processing Charge and produce invoices/receipts (contract, legal obligation).
• Detect, prevent, and investigate fraud, misuse, and security incidents (legitimate interests).
• Comply with legal obligations including tax and accounting (legal obligation).

4. Who we share it with

• Paddle.com — our Merchant of Record for processing payments, subscription management, tax compliance, and invoicing.
• Hosting & infrastructure providers that operate the website and database.
• Email delivery providers used to send transactional and newsletter emails.
• Editorial reviewers bound by confidentiality, for the purpose of peer review.
• Professional advisers (legal, accounting) where necessary.
• Authorities where required by law.

5. International transfers

Some of our providers are located outside India. Where personal data is transferred internationally, we rely on appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses or adequacy decisions.

6. Retention

We retain personal data only as long as needed for the purposes above, to meet legal, tax, and accounting obligations, and to preserve the scholarly record. Payment records are typically retained for at least seven years. Unsuccessful submissions and reviewer correspondence are retained for the duration of the editorial cycle and a reasonable period thereafter, then deleted or anonymised.

7. Your rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict, port, or object to the processing of your personal data, and to withdraw consent at any time. To exercise these rights, email refund@joscr.com. You also have the right to complain to your local data-protection authority.

8. Security

We use appropriate technical and organisational measures — including encryption in transit, access controls, and audit logging — to protect personal data.

9. Cookies

We use only essential cookies required for the website to function (e.g. session and security cookies). We do not currently use advertising cookies.

10. Changes

We may update this notice from time to time. Material changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date above.

11. Contact

Data-protection enquiries: refund@joscr.com.