Digital Archiving and Preservation Policy

Commitment to Digital Preservation

The International Review of FinTech Business and Management (IRFBM), published by the Academy of Decision and Data Sciences (ADDS), is committed to preserving its published scholarly content and ensuring its long-term availability to authors, readers, researchers, libraries, and academic institutions.

Digital preservation is an important part of the journal’s publishing responsibilities. IRFBM maintains preservation arrangements intended to protect published articles, supplementary materials, and associated metadata against website failure, technical disruption, data loss, or discontinuation of the journal.

The journal stores published content in commonly supported file formats, including PDF, to support long-term accessibility and compatibility with digital preservation systems.

Internet Archive

IRFBM may deposit its published articles, journal webpages, and relevant metadata in the Internet Archive or a comparable public digital preservation service.

This form of preservation helps ensure that journal content remains accessible if the main journal website becomes temporarily unavailable, is moved to another platform, or is discontinued.

Archived versions may include:

  • Published articles

  • Tables of contents

  • Issue information

  • Article metadata

  • Journal policies

  • Editorial information

  • Supplementary materials, where applicable

Depositing content in an external archive provides an additional layer of protection beyond the journal’s own website and server backups.

PKP Preservation Network

IRFBM uses the Open Journal Systems platform and may participate in the PKP Preservation Network, subject to technical eligibility and activation.

The PKP Preservation Network is designed to preserve journal content through a distributed archiving system. Multiple copies of published materials are stored across independent preservation locations, reducing the risk that scholarly content will be lost because of a single technical failure.

Where enabled, this preservation arrangement may use systems based on the principle that maintaining multiple copies in separate locations improves the security and continuing availability of digital content.

Participation in the preservation network is subject to the journal meeting the relevant technical, licensing, and platform requirements.

LOCKSS and CLOCKSS Preservation

Where available and technically supported, IRFBM may preserve its published content through recognised distributed preservation systems such as:

  • LOCKSS, based on maintaining multiple preserved copies across participating institutions.

  • CLOCKSS, which provides controlled access to preserved scholarly content when the original publication is no longer available from its publisher.

These systems are intended to ensure that published research remains accessible even if the journal website experiences permanent failure or the journal ceases publication.

IRFBM will only identify itself as participating in a specific preservation service after the relevant arrangement has been formally activated.

Local Backups and Platform Security

In addition to external preservation arrangements, ADDS maintains local and server-based backups of journal content and administrative data.

Backed-up materials may include:

  • Published article files

  • Manuscript records

  • Article metadata

  • Editorial decisions

  • Issue information

  • User records

  • Journal settings

  • Website content

  • Supplementary files

Backups are maintained at reasonable intervals and stored separately from the active journal platform where possible.

Access to backup files is restricted to authorised personnel. Restoration procedures may be used when content is lost, corrupted, altered, or made inaccessible because of a technical failure.

File Formats

IRFBM uses widely recognised and commonly supported file formats to improve long-term accessibility.

The principal publication format is PDF. Where appropriate, the journal may also preserve content in formats such as:

  • HTML

  • XML

  • Plain text

  • Image formats

  • Spreadsheet formats

  • Supplementary data formats

The journal may migrate files to newer formats when an existing format becomes obsolete or no longer provides reliable access.

Metadata Preservation

IRFBM preserves bibliographic and administrative metadata associated with each published article.

Article metadata may include:

  • Article title

  • Author names

  • Institutional affiliations

  • Abstract

  • Keywords

  • Publication date

  • Volume and issue number

  • Page range or article number

  • References

  • Copyright information

  • Licensing information

  • Digital object identifier

  • Funding information

  • Author identifiers

  • Supplementary file information

Metadata is prepared using recognised scholarly publishing standards supported by the journal platform. Where applicable, metadata may be shared with indexing services, repositories, libraries, preservation networks, and persistent identifier registration agencies.

Preservation Responsibilities

The editorial and technical teams of IRFBM are responsible for implementing and reviewing the journal’s preservation arrangements.

Their responsibilities include:

  • Depositing published content in approved preservation systems.

  • Checking that article files and metadata have been deposited correctly.

  • Maintaining secure backups of the journal platform.

  • Monitoring the accessibility of archived content.

  • Correcting missing or inaccurate preservation records.

  • Updating archived files when formal corrections or retractions are issued.

  • Reviewing preservation arrangements when the journal platform or website changes.

Periodic checks may be conducted to assess whether preserved files remain complete, readable, accurate, and accessible.

Journal Discontinuation

If IRFBM ceases publication, ADDS will make reasonable efforts to preserve previously published articles and maintain access to the journal archive.

Where possible:

  • Published articles will remain available on the journal website.

  • Preserved copies will remain accessible through external archiving systems.

  • Article metadata will continue to be maintained.

  • Digital object identifiers will continue to direct users to an active article or archive page.

  • Corrections, retractions, and other post-publication notices will remain linked to the relevant articles.

The discontinuation of the journal will not affect the copyright or open-access licence attached to previously published articles.

Digital Object Identifier Policy

Assignment of Digital Object Identifiers

IRFBM aims to assign a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to each eligible published article.

A DOI is a permanent scholarly identifier that supports:

  • Stable identification of an article

  • Accurate citation

  • Online discovery

  • Reference linking

  • Metadata exchange

  • Citation tracking

  • Long-term access

A DOI does not replace the article webpage. Rather, it provides a persistent identifier that can be linked to the article’s current online location.

DOI Registration

DOIs may be registered through Crossref or another recognised DOI registration agency used by ADDS.

The journal deposits the required bibliographic metadata with the registration agency. The deposited information may include:

  • Article title

  • Author names

  • Journal title

  • Publication year

  • Volume and issue

  • Article webpage

  • References

  • Copyright and licence information

  • Funding information

  • Author identifiers, where available

A DOI will be assigned only after the article has been formally accepted, prepared, approved, and published.

Display and Citation of DOIs

The DOI should be displayed in:

  • The article webpage

  • The published PDF

  • The article metadata

  • The table of contents

  • Citation information

  • Indexing records, where applicable

Authors, readers, editors, and indexing services are encouraged to use the DOI when citing or linking to an IRFBM article.

DOI Maintenance

ADDS and IRFBM are responsible for maintaining the accuracy and continuing operation of DOIs assigned to published content.

If an article webpage is moved or the journal website address changes, the DOI record will be updated to point to the new location.

Where necessary, the journal may also update DOI metadata following:

  • Correction of author information

  • Changes in article title metadata

  • Publication of a correction

  • Publication of a retraction

  • Changes to the journal website

  • Changes in licensing information

  • Updates to funding information

The DOI assigned to an article will not normally be changed or withdrawn after publication.

Corrections and Retractions

An article that is corrected or retracted will retain its original DOI.

A correction, retraction, expression of concern, or other post-publication notice may receive a separate DOI where appropriate. The notice will be linked to the original article, and the original article will be clearly marked to show its updated publication status.

The DOI will continue to direct users to the article record and relevant publication notice.

Accuracy of DOI Information

Authors are responsible for reviewing article titles, names, affiliations, references, and other important metadata during the proofing process.

The editorial office will make reasonable efforts to ensure that DOI metadata is complete and accurate before registration.

Requests relating to inaccurate DOI metadata should be submitted to the editorial office.

Author Self-Archiving Policy

General Principle

IRFBM supports author self-archiving as part of its commitment to open access and the broad dissemination of scholarly research.

Authors may deposit copies of their manuscripts in appropriate repositories and public platforms without an embargo period, subject to proper acknowledgement of the original publication.

Self-archiving enables authors to:

  • Increase the visibility of their work.

  • Improve access to research.

  • Meet institutional requirements.

  • Meet funder open-access requirements.

  • Support long-term preservation.

  • Encourage scholarly use and citation.

Versions Permitted for Self-Archiving

Authors may archive the following versions of their work:

Submitted Manuscript

The submitted manuscript is the version initially submitted to the journal before peer review.

Authors may share this version at any stage. However, they should clearly indicate that it has not been peer-reviewed and may differ from the final published article.

Accepted Manuscript

The accepted manuscript is the version approved for publication after peer review and revision but before the journal’s final formatting and typesetting.

Authors may deposit the accepted manuscript immediately after acceptance or publication without an embargo.

Where possible, the deposited copy should include a statement confirming that the final version has been published in IRFBM.

Published Version

The published version is the final article prepared and published by IRFBM.

Authors may share and deposit the published version immediately after publication. The published version should retain its original copyright statement, licensing information, citation details, and DOI.

Permitted Archiving Locations

Authors may deposit eligible versions of their articles in:

  • Institutional repositories

  • Subject-based repositories

  • Funder-designated repositories

  • National research repositories

  • University or departmental websites

  • Personal academic websites

  • Academic networking platforms

  • Research information systems

  • Non-commercial public archives

Academic networking websites may assist with visibility, but they should not be treated as substitutes for formal long-term preservation repositories.

Conditions for Self-Archiving

When depositing an article, authors should:

  • Provide the complete citation of the published article.

  • Identify IRFBM as the original publication source.

  • Include the DOI, where assigned.

  • Retain the original copyright and licence statements.

  • Avoid altering the published article in a way that misrepresents its content.

  • Clearly identify the manuscript version being deposited.

  • Link the deposited copy to the final published version where possible.

Authors must not suggest that a modified version has been approved or endorsed by IRFBM unless such approval has been formally provided.

Embargo Period

IRFBM does not impose an embargo period on author self-archiving.

Authors may deposit the submitted, accepted, or published version according to this policy immediately after the relevant version becomes available.

Licensing of Archived Versions

The final published version is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence, unless a different licence is clearly stated within the article.

Any reuse of the archived published version must comply with the applicable licence terms.

A submitted or accepted manuscript may also be shared under appropriate terms chosen by the author, provided those terms do not conflict with agreements relating to third-party material included in the manuscript.

Third-Party Material

Authors must consider whether third-party content included in an article is covered by the article’s open-access licence.

Some figures, photographs, tables, datasets, maps, scales, or other materials may be subject to separate copyright conditions. Such content must not be reused beyond the permission granted by its copyright holder.

When depositing an article, authors should retain all credit lines, copyright statements, and restrictions attached to third-party material.

Repository Metadata

Authors and repository managers are encouraged to include complete metadata with deposited articles, including:

  • Article title

  • Author names

  • Author affiliations

  • Abstract

  • Keywords

  • Journal title

  • Volume and issue

  • Publication date

  • DOI

  • Licence

  • Funding information

  • Version type

Accurate metadata improves the visibility, indexing, retrieval, and citation of archived research.

Contact

Questions regarding digital archiving, preservation, DOI registration, metadata, or author self-archiving may be directed to the editorial office:

International Review of FinTech Business and Management
Academy of Decision and Data Sciences
Email: editor.irfbm@addsacademy.com

Policy Review

This policy may be reviewed periodically to reflect changes in preservation technology, repository practices, persistent identifier standards, open-access requirements, and scholarly publishing guidance.

Any substantial change will be published on the journal website. Changes will not normally remove rights already granted to authors or readers for previously published articles.