Preprints, postprints & article sharing

Policy on sharing preprints, accepted manuscripts (postprints) and published articles from IUMS journals — what authors may share, where and when, and how to cite different versions responsibly.

Applies to all submissions and published articles in IUMS journals
Policy v1.0 – last updated April 2025
Related policies: Copyright, open access & reuse · APCs, waivers & funding · Archiving & indexer readiness · Text & data mining, ILL

1 Scope & purpose

How IUMS supports responsible sharing of manuscripts and articles.

IUMS journals recognise that timely sharing of research results is important for scientific progress, open science and public health. At the same time, it is essential to:

  • respect copyright and licensing conditions;
  • avoid confusion between different versions of an article; and
  • maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

This policy explains:

  • when and how authors may share preprints;
  • what they can do with their accepted manuscript (postprint);
  • how the version of record (VoR) may be shared and cited after publication; and
  • how these practices interact with funder mandates and repository policies.

2 Key definitions & versions

What we mean by preprint, postprint and version of record.

For clarity, IUMS journals use the following terms:

  • Preprint: the author’s original manuscript (or a revised version) that has not yet been accepted by a journal. Preprints are typically posted on public servers before or during submission to a journal.
  • Postprint / accepted manuscript: the version of the manuscript that has been accepted for publication after peer review and editorial revisions, but before journal formatting, copyediting and typesetting.
  • Version of record (VoR): the final, formally published article on the journal website, with volume/issue details, pagination, layout and DOI.

Throughout this policy, “article sharing” refers to any distribution of these versions by authors, including posting on repositories, personal websites, academic networks and social media.

3 Preprints before submission

Posting a preprint does not prevent submission to IUMS journals.

IUMS journals generally permit and encourage authors to share their work as a preprint before or at the time of submission to a journal in the portfolio, provided that:

  • the preprint is posted on a recognised, non-commercial preprint server or institutional repository;
  • the preprint clearly states that it has not been peer reviewed;
  • the license chosen for the preprint is compatible with the journal’s copyright and open access policy (see the Copyright, open access & reuse policy);
  • the preprint is not presented in a way that could be confused with the final published article.

When submitting a manuscript that is already available as a preprint, authors must:

  • declare the existence of the preprint in the cover letter; and
  • include the preprint server name and DOI/identifier in the manuscript, typically in the Methods or Acknowledgements section.

4 Preprints during peer review

Updating or commenting on preprints while the manuscript is under review.

While the manuscript is under consideration by an IUMS journal, authors may:

  • leave the existing preprint online; and
  • post minor revisions or clarifications on the preprint server, provided that these do not contradict the version submitted to the journal.

Authors should avoid:

  • posting substantial new analyses or results on the preprint that are not reflected in the version under review, without informing the editors;
  • publicly implying that the preprint has been accepted or endorsed by the journal before a formal decision is communicated.

If major changes to the preprint are made that could affect peer review, authors should notify the editorial office and, if needed, submit an updated manuscript version.

5 Preprints after acceptance & publication

Keeping preprints online once the article is accepted or published.

Once an article has been accepted or published in an IUMS journal:

  • authors may keep previously posted preprints online; and
  • they must update the preprint record to include full citation details and a link to the version of record (VoR) via its DOI.

Authors should not upload the final formatted PDF (VoR) to the preprint server unless this is explicitly allowed by the journal’s copyright and open access licence. Instead, the recommended approach is to:

  • link from the preprint to the publisher’s VoR using the DOI; and
  • include a clear statement on the preprint page that a peer-reviewed version is available in the journal.

6 Citing & linking preprints

How to reference preprints in submissions and publications.

Preprints can be cited in IUMS journals when they are relevant to the work being reported. When citing preprints, authors should:

  • indicate clearly that the cited item is a preprint; and
  • provide the preprint server name and persistent identifier (such as DOI or unique accession).

If a cited preprint is later published as a journal article, authors are encouraged to update references where possible (for example, in revisions or subsequent related publications) so that the formal article of record is cited.

7 Accepted manuscripts (postprints)

Sharing the author’s accepted version after peer review.

After acceptance, authors often wish to share the accepted manuscript (postprint). For most IUMS journals, which publish articles as open access, the version of record is immediately freely available on the journal website. In such cases:

  • authors may share the accepted manuscript or link directly to the VoR on personal websites, institutional repositories and funder repositories; and
  • the preferred option is to share the VoR link (DOI) rather than multiple PDF copies, to ensure that readers access the most up-to-date version.

If an individual journal has specific requirements or embargo periods for postprints (for example, in hybrid or non-OA titles), these will be described on that journal’s website and must be followed in addition to this general policy.

The accepted manuscript should not bear the journal’s branding, pagination or layout and must not be presented as the final published version.

8 Version of record (VoR) & publisher PDF

Sharing the final formatted article in IUMS open access journals.

For IUMS journals that are fully open access:

  • the version of record is freely accessible on the journal platform and is typically published under a Creative Commons licence (e.g. CC BY or CC BY-NC);
  • authors and readers may share the VoR link widely, including on websites, repositories, emails and social media;
  • downloading and redistributing the PDF is allowed in line with the applicable licence, provided that the article is properly cited and not misrepresented.

Any exceptions (such as journals using different licences or limited reuse conditions) will be detailed on the journal’s own Copyright, open access & reuse page. In case of inconsistency between journal-specific and portfolio-wide policies, the stricter condition applies.

9 Repositories & funder mandates

Complying with funder and institutional open access requirements.

Many funders and institutions require that research outputs be deposited in specific repositories (for example, institutional, national or subject-based repositories). IUMS journals aim to support compliance with such mandates by:

  • allowing authors to deposit preprints, accepted manuscripts or the VoR as permitted by the journal’s licence;
  • providing clear metadata and DOIs that can be used in repository records;
  • encouraging authors to include repository deposit details in funding and data availability statements where relevant.

Authors are responsible for:

  • checking the requirements of their funders and institutions; and
  • ensuring that deposits use the correct version (preprint, postprint or VoR) and licence, consistent with this policy.

10 Academic networks, websites & social media

Sharing research on platforms beyond repositories.

Authors frequently use academic networks, personal websites and social media to share their research. IUMS journals support this, provided that copyright and licence conditions are respected. In general:

  • the safest and most stable approach is to share the official journal link (DOI) to the VoR;
  • if PDFs are shared, they should not remove or obscure publisher branding, licence information or citations;
  • posts should not misrepresent the review status of preprints or manuscripts under consideration.

When using commercial or third-party platforms, authors should be aware of the platform’s own terms of use and ensure that these do not conflict with the journal’s licence or their rights as authors.

11 Sharing for TDM, interlibrary loan & educational use

Additional sharing for specialised uses.

Most IUMS articles are open access and may be used for teaching, interlibrary loan (ILL) and text and data mining (TDM) in line with their Creative Commons licences and the TDM & ILL policy. In particular:

  • libraries may share links or copies of articles with patrons for non-commercial research and educational purposes, consistent with licence terms;
  • TDM projects should respect technical and legal conditions and, where necessary, use bulk access routes agreed with the publisher;
  • educators may incorporate articles into course materials, repositories and virtual learning environments, provided that citations and licences are preserved.

For any uses that go beyond the normal scope of the licence (for example, large-scale commercial reuse), permission may be required.

12 Managing versions & avoiding duplication

Keeping the scholarly record clear when multiple versions exist.

When preprints, postprints and VoRs coexist, it is important to avoid confusion and perceived duplicate publication. Authors can help by:

  • clearly labelling each version and its status (e.g. “preprint, not peer reviewed”, “accepted manuscript”, “published article”);
  • ensuring that all earlier versions link forward to the VoR once available;
  • using ORCID and consistent author names to connect versions;
  • avoiding submitting essentially the same work to multiple journals simultaneously.

If a preprint or repository record contains substantial differences from the VoR (for example, withdrawn analyses or corrected results), authors should consider adding a note or updated version that explains the relationship between them.

13 Compliance, disputes & corrections

What happens if article sharing conflicts with policy.

If editors become aware that article sharing may conflict with this policy—for example:

  • posting of non-open-access VoRs on sites where this is not allowed;
  • misleading claims about review or acceptance status in preprints;
  • duplicate or overlapping publication of essentially the same article in multiple venues—

they may:

  • contact the authors and, where appropriate, repository administrators to clarify or correct records;
  • request modifications to repository versions or preprint annotations;
  • publish a correction or editorial note where needed; or
  • in serious cases, follow the steps described in the Research & publication misconduct and Corrections & retractions policies.

Disputes about rights, licences or removal requests will be handled in line with applicable laws and institutional agreements.

14 Questions & contact

Getting help with preprints, postprints and sharing decisions.

Authors who are unsure how this policy applies to a specific situation—for example, unusual funder rules, multi-journal preprint posting, or licensing questions—are encouraged to contact the editorial office of the relevant IUMS journal before making decisions about where and how to share their manuscripts.

General questions about preprints, self-archiving and article sharing across IUMS journals can be directed to:

Policy version: v1.0 – last updated April 2025. This page will be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in open science practices, funder policies and legal frameworks.