Editorial Independence Policy

POLICY ON EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE, OWNERSHIP, AND PUBLISHING SERVICES

This policy defines the relationships between the journal LEGAL HORIZONS, its Owner, the Editorial Board, and ESS Press as the provider of publishing services.

Ownership

The journal LEGAL HORIZONS is fully owned by LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION HORIZONT LAW (LLC SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZATION HORIZONT LAW). The Owner retains full and exclusive rights to:

  • the journal’s name, branding, and strategic development;

  • editorial aims, scope, and thematic priorities;

  • appointment and dismissal of the Editor-in-Chief and members of the Editorial Board;

  • all editorial and ethical policies;

  • decisions regarding copyright and licensing;

  • financial policy.

ESS Press is not the owner of the journal and has no rights over its editorial content.

Editorial Independence

The Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board bear full responsibility for:

  • evaluating submitted manuscripts;

  • ensuring thorough and impartial peer review;

  • selecting and inviting reviewers;

  • making decisions on acceptance, revision, or rejection;

  • upholding ethical standards;

  • resolving conflicts of interest;

  • initiating investigations of misconduct;

  • publishing corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions.

ESS Press does not participate in:

  • editorial evaluation of manuscripts;

  • selection of reviewers;

  • decisions on acceptance or rejection;

  • scientific analysis or assessment of submitted materials;

  • formation or modification of editorial or ethical policies.

All editorial decisions are made independently, without interference from ESS Press, sponsors, or any external parties.

Role of ESS Press

ESS Press acts solely as a provider of technical and publishing services (status: “managed by ESS Press”).

Technical and platform services:

  • hosting and maintenance of the journal’s website;

  • configuration, updates, and security of software;

  • user support and workflow management for submissions.

Publishing services:

  • editing and language proofreading (upon request of the Editor-in-Chief);

  • typesetting, layout preparation, and proof correction;

  • metadata entry (Crossref, bibliographic standards);

  • DOI registration and maintenance;

  • online publication, versioning, and archiving.

Indexing support:

  • preparation of metadata for indexing services;

  • assistance with technical requirements for repositories and catalogues.

These operational services do not grant ESS Press any editorial authority.

Ethical Responsibilities of ESS Press

As a provider of technical and publishing services, ESS Press commits to supporting the journal’s integrity by:

  • respecting editorial independence at all stages;

  • ensuring confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and review materials;

  • preserving reviewer anonymity;

  • handling manuscript data properly and securely;

  • providing technical support for investigations in accordance with COPE requirements, upon request of the Editor-in-Chief.

Transparency for Authors and Readers

To ensure openness and clarity:

  • The journal’s website clearly states its Owner and the independence of editorial management.

  • ESS Press is identified solely as a provider of technical and publishing services, not as an owner or editorial body.

  • Copyright and legal disclaimers are determined and administered by the journal’s Owner.

  • All journal policies (ethics, peer review, conflicts of interest, corrections, retractions) are adopted by the Editorial Board.

Financial Independence

Financial decisions related to the journal’s operations (APCs, waivers, funding models):

  • are determined by the Owner or the Editorial Board;

  • are published on the journal’s official website.

ESS Press does not set APCs for Legal Horizons, does not collect APCs, and does not influence funding models.