Advertising policy

1. General Principles

• Advertising must be truthful, accurate, and compliant with applicable laws and industry codes, including ICMJE, COPE, and WHO standards for medical advertising.
• Advertisements are accepted only if they are relevant to science, medicine, healthcare, or academic publishing.
• Acceptance of advertising does not imply BM-Publisher’s endorsement of the advertised product, service, or company.

2. Editorial Independence

• Editorial decisions are made independently of any commercial or advertising considerations.
• Editors and reviewers have no role in approving or negotiating advertisements.
• Advertising revenue has no influence on editorial content, peer review, or acceptance decisions.

3. Acceptance Criteria

• All advertisements are reviewed by the BM-Publisher administrative office before publication.
• Advertisements must not:
  • Contain false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims.
  • Promote unsafe or unapproved medical devices, drugs, or therapies.
  • Discriminate or include offensive, defamatory, or unethical content.
• Advertisements for prescription drugs must comply with national regulatory authorities (e.g., FDA, EMA, MHRA).

4. Placement & Labelling

• Advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content by layout, border, or background shading.
• No advertisement is placed adjacent to an article discussing the same or competing product in a way that may imply association.
• Online ads are labelled “Advertisement” or “Sponsored” and may not mimic journal content style.

5. Sponsored Content

• Sponsored supplements, thematic issues, or educational content must be clearly identified as such.
• Editorial control remains with the journal’s editorial board; sponsors have no influence on peer review or acceptance decisions.
• Sponsorship arrangements are disclosed in the published material.

6. Rejection or Removal

• BM-Publisher reserves the right to refuse, withdraw, or require revision of any advertisement at any time for any reason, including ethical or reputational concerns.
• Advertisements found to be misleading, inaccurate, or in violation of policy will be removed without prior notice.

7. Digital Advertising Standards

• Digital ads must not interfere with website usability, compromise security, or collect personal data without consent.
• Pop-ups, auto-play sound, or deceptive click-throughs are not permitted.
• All advertising must comply with the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) standards.

8. Advertiser Responsibility

• Advertisers are responsible for the legal and regulatory compliance of their advertisements.
• They must provide substantiation for all claims and furnish documentation upon request.
• Advertisers agree to indemnify BM-Publisher against any claims or liabilities arising from the advertisement content.

9. Liability Disclaimer

BM-Publisher does not accept responsibility for the accuracy, legality, or content of advertisements, nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance on them. Inclusion of an advertisement does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of the advertised product or service.

10. Contact