Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions

• “Services” means the Journal website, submission portal, author dashboard, payment portal, and any related platforms or tools we provide.
• “Content” means any manuscript, article, data, or material you submit or upload.
• “Submission Fee” means the fee payable to process and consider your article submission, as displayed at the time of submission.
• “You” means the user, author, or any person or entity using the Services.

2. Acceptance and Changes

By using the Services you accept these Terms. We may modify these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Services after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. It is your responsibility to review this page periodically. We are not obliged to notify you of every change.

3. Eligibility and Account

You must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements. You are responsible for the accuracy of information you provide and for keeping your account credentials secure. We may suspend or terminate accounts at our discretion for breach of these Terms or for any other reason we deem appropriate.

4. Payment Terms and Submission Fees

Submission and related fees are set by us and displayed before you complete payment. By paying the submission fee you agree to the following:

• Non-refundable fees. All submission fees and any other fees paid in connection with the submission process are non-refundable. This applies regardless of the outcome of the editorial or peer-review process. Specifically, the fee is not refundable whether or not your submitted article is selected for publication, accepted, rejected, or withdrawn. Payment is for the service of processing and evaluating your submission, not for a guaranteed publication outcome.
• Fees must be paid in the currency and by the method we specify. We are not responsible for bank charges, foreign exchange fluctuations, or third-party payment processor fees.
• We reserve the right to change fee amounts at any time. The fee applicable to your submission is the fee displayed and agreed at the time you complete payment.
• Failure to pay any due amount may result in your submission not being processed and your account being restricted until payment is received.

5. Submissions and Content

You represent that you own or have the necessary rights to submit your Content and that it does not infringe any third-party rights or violate any law. You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, store, display, reproduce, and distribute your Content in connection with the Journal and our Services, including for peer review, editing, publication, indexing, and archiving. We may use third-party infrastructure and services for hosting and storage; we do not name specific providers, and our obligations regarding your Content are limited as set out in these Terms.

6. Editorial and Publication Decisions

All editorial and publication decisions, including acceptance or rejection of submissions, are made at our sole discretion. We do not guarantee that any submission will be accepted or published. We are not liable for any loss or disappointment arising from rejection or delay in the review process.

7. Data and Storage

We store and process your data and Content using our systems and, where appropriate, secure hosting and infrastructure services. We do not disclose the identity of specific storage or hosting providers. We take reasonable measures to protect data but do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation. We are not liable for loss or corruption of data arising from technical failure, third-party services, or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

8. Intellectual Property

Except as granted to us under these Terms, you retain ownership of your Content. The Journal’s name, logo, website design, and other materials we create remain our property or our licensors’. You may not use our trademarks or branding without prior written consent.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You must not use the Services to submit false information, plagiarised or infringing content, or material that is defamatory, illegal, or harmful. You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to our systems or other users’ accounts. We may remove Content and terminate access without notice for breach of this section.

10. Disclaimers

The Services are provided “as is.” We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. We do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free. Views expressed in published articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect our views.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Sigma Horizons s.r.o., JEPECH Journal, and our officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for any loss of profits, data, or goodwill, arising from your use of the Services or these Terms. Our total liability for any claim arising from or related to the Services or these Terms shall not exceed the amount you paid to us in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim, or, if greater, the submission fee paid for the single submission in question.

12. Indemnity

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Sigma Horizons s.r.o., JEPECH Journal, and our officers, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from your use of the Services, your Content, or your breach of these Terms.

13. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Czech Republic. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the Czech Republic. You waive any objection to such jurisdiction and venue.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

15. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact:

Sigma Horizons s.r.o.
Varšavská 715/36, Vinohrady, Prague 2, 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic
Email: a@sigma-horizon.xyz