Open Access Policy

Access Model

El Capacho Scientific Journal operates under a diamond open access model, representing the institutional commitment of UTECO University to the democratization of scientific knowledge and the elimination of economic barriers that have traditionally limited access to quality academic information. This model is based on the principle that scientific knowledge, especially that generated with public or institutional funding, should be available free of charge and without restrictions to the entire global academic community, thus contributing to the collective advancement of science and technology.

Free access for readers constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of this editorial model, guaranteeing that any researcher, student, professional, or interested citizen can consult, read, and use published content without facing subscription costs, article fees, or any other economic barrier. This free access policy extends to all journal content, including research articles, reviews, brief communications, and any other published academic material, ensuring that the dissemination of knowledge is not conditioned by the economic capacity of users or their affiliated institutions.

The absence of publication costs for authors represents a distinctive element of the diamond model that differentiates El Capacho Journal from the predominant commercial practices in the academic publishing sector. Authors can submit their scientific contributions, participate in the peer review process, and publish their articles without incurring article processing charges, editorial fees, or any other cost associated with publication. This policy eliminates economic inequalities that frequently prevent researchers from institutions with limited resources or from developing countries from fully participating in the international scientific publication ecosystem.

The implementation of the Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 license establishes the legal framework that regulates the use and distribution of published content, balancing authors' rights with the access needs of the academic community. This license allows maximum dissemination of knowledge while protecting the moral and patrimonial rights of creators, establishing clear conditions for appropriate use of published material. The choice of this specific license reflects the journal's commitment to responsible open access principles and respect for contributors' intellectual property.

Usage Rights

Users of El Capacho Scientific Journal enjoy broad rights to read and download all published content, facilitating immediate and unrestricted access to scientific information. These rights include the possibility of accessing articles in multiple formats when available, downloading files for personal or academic use, and printing copies for educational or research purposes. The exercise of these rights does not require prior registration, specific permission requests, or compliance with administrative procedures, guaranteeing that access to knowledge is truly free and expeditious.

The ability to share and adapt published material allows users to redistribute, reproduce, and modify content for various academic and educational purposes, provided they comply with the conditions established in the Creative Commons CC BY-NC 4.0 license. This adaptation capacity includes translation to other languages, data extraction for meta-analyses, incorporation of figures or tables in academic presentations, and creation of derived educational materials. However, it is important to note that these usage rights are specifically limited to non-commercial purposes, excluding any use that has as its main purpose the obtaining of commercial benefits or direct economic advantages.

The possibility of creating derivative works represents a significant extension of usage rights that facilitates collaborative construction of scientific knowledge and fosters academic innovation. Users can develop works that are based on, incorporate, or transform the original material, including compilations, comparative analyses, critical syntheses, and adaptations for different audiences or educational contexts. These derivative works must maintain appropriate recognition of the original work and respect non-commercial use restrictions, thus contributing to the open knowledge ecosystem while respecting the rights of original authors.

Attribution Requirements

The obligation to appropriately cite the original source constitutes a fundamental requirement for legitimate use of material published in El Capacho Scientific Journal, reflecting the basic principles of academic integrity and respect for intellectual property. This citation must include complete and accurate information about the authors, article title, journal name, corresponding volume and issue, pages, publication year, and persistent digital identifier (DOI) when available. Appropriate citation not only complies with the legal requirements of the license but also allows readers to locate and verify original sources, facilitating the construction of verifiable and traceable scientific knowledge chains.

The indication of modifications made to original material represents an ethical and legal obligation that guarantees transparency in the use of academic content and protects both original authors and users from possible misunderstandings about authorship and the scope of contributions. When users adapt, modify, transform, or extract specific elements from published material, they must clearly indicate the nature and extent of changes made, distinguishing between original content and additions, modifications, or interpretations introduced. This practice preserves the integrity of original work while allowing the evolution and adaptation of scientific knowledge.

Maintaining the link to the Creative Commons license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ constitutes a technical and legal requirement that ensures continuity of rights and obligations associated with the use of published material. This link must remain accessible and visible in any distribution, reproduction, or adaptation of original content, allowing future users to clearly understand the terms and conditions that govern material use. Preserving this link facilitates responsible propagation of open access principles and guarantees that rights granted by authors are respected throughout all chains of use and distribution of published scientific knowledge.