Published at October 26th, 2025 Last updated 9 days ago

Logic description

Step 1: Initial OA Standing

Assume Initial Open Access Standing = OPEN, unless the following criteria apply:

Field Logic
Access to an electronic version If no Document, Link, or DOI is provided, Open Access Status = NONE
Publication state If Publication state = In preparation OR Submitted OR Unpublished, Initial Open Access Standing = NONE
Document version of file

If Document version of file = Submitted manuscript OR Other version, Initial Open Access Standing = NONE

If Document version of file = No value, Initial Open Access Standing = INDETERMINATE

Public access to file

If Public access to file = Restricted OR Closed, Initial Open Access Standing = CLOSED

If Public access to file = Embargoed AND the embargo period is still in force, Initial Open Access Standing = EMBARGOED

If Public access to file = Unknown, Initial Open Access Standing = INDETERMINATE

Step 2 : OA Status

Field Logic
Visibility

Ignore visibility where:

The electronic version is a Link OR DOI
 

Initial Open Access Standing = NONE or CLOSED or INDETERMINATE

Otherwise, if Visibility = Restricted, Open Access Status = CLOSED

Where more than one electronic version is attached (either Documents, Links, or DOIs), the following logic applies:

  • The Open Access Status of the record should reflect the most open electronic version. So, for example, if the Author’s Accepted Manuscript is OPEN and the Publisher’s PDF is EMBARGOED, the Open Access Status of the record should be OPEN.
  • Where more than one version is in the same most open state, then the most ‘advanced’ version should be stated in the Open Access status of the record. For example, if the Author’s Accepted Manuscript is OPEN and the Publisher’s PDF is OPEN, the Editor should state that the Open Access Status of the record is determined by the Publisher’s PDF.