1. Your work remains your work
Authors and other contributors retain copyright in original material they submit, unless rights belong to an employer, sponsor, publisher or another party under a separate arrangement. Uploading a work does not transfer ownership to ResearchBridge Africa.
2. Permission needed to operate the service
By submitting content, you grant ResearchBridge Africa a non-exclusive licence to store, reproduce, format, secure, review and display it only as needed to provide the selected services. Public repository distribution occurs only under the approved access setting and any licence recorded for that publication.
3. Your responsibility
You must have permission to submit all text, tables, images, instruments, datasets and other material. Cite sources accurately, respect third-party licences and disclose prior publication where relevant. Do not upload a publisher-formatted article or other restricted version unless the applicable agreement permits repository deposit.
4. Platform materials
The ResearchBridge Africa name, interface, original learning resources, administrative materials, graphics and software are protected by applicable intellectual-property law. Unless a page states otherwise, they may be used for normal personal and educational access to the platform but may not be copied, sold, rebranded or republished as a competing service without permission.
5. Citation is not permission
Citing a source supports academic attribution but does not automatically authorise copying beyond a licence, exception or permission. Repository users should follow the licence and access statement displayed on each record.
6. Reporting infringement
A notice should identify the protected work, the ResearchBridge Africa page or file concerned, the complainant’s relationship to the rights, contact information, the basis of the claim and a good-faith declaration that the use is unauthorised. Knowingly false notices may harm authors and scholarly records.
7. Review and action
We may temporarily restrict access while a credible notice is reviewed, request supporting evidence, contact the submitting author and then restore, replace, restrict or withdraw the material. Where appropriate, the permanent record may remain with an explanatory notice to preserve the scholarly history.
8. How to submit a notice
Use Support Services and select the relevant publication or provide its permanent link. The Help Center explains the information needed for a clear report.