Embargo Policy - PLOS

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Embargo Policy

Our embargo policy provides fair and equal opportunity for journalists to research stories and to speak with experts, for researchers to provide comments and for press officers to coordinate coverage with scientists at their institutions.

Our embargoes enable authors to achieve accurate, high-quality media coverage which disseminates their peer-reviewed research to non-expert readers. They ensure that peer-reviewed published articles are accessible to everyone when first reported in the media. 

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PLOS articles are embargoed until 11:00 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the date of publication.

Eligibility to Access Embargoed Materials

Journalists and freelancers writing for publications that are registered with EurekAlert! are eligible to receive embargoed materials from PLOS. Science bloggers of good standing may also be eligible. All recipients must agree to follow the terms of the embargo policy. Individuals who break the embargo policy will be removed from PLOS’ press list for a period to be determined by PLOS.

All content published by PLOS is Open Access and distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. You should credit the appropriate PLOS journal in your coverage and provide a link to the freely available article in any online coverage.

Conditions of the PLOS Embargo Policy

Stories or reports on accepted PLOS articles may not be published, broadcast, posted online or on social media or placed in the public domain before the embargo date and time. Precise embargo dates and times will be clearly marked on all embargoed materials.

Embargoed materials are for background research only. Journalists may share embargoed materials only with experts in the field to seek comment, but such materials must be clearly identified as embargoed and must include the embargo date and time. Journalists are responsible for taking all necessary steps to ensure that third parties honor the embargo.

Press officers may not distribute embargoed materials in the public domain before the embargo date. However, embargoed materials may be distributed to the media by press officers up to seven days before the embargo date. Press releases must be clearly identified as embargoed and must include the embargo date and time. Press officers are responsible for taking all necessary steps to ensure that third parties honor the embargo.

PLOS will provide advance notice of press-released articles to members of its press list up to seven days ahead of publication. Distribution and use of all advance materials are subject to the PLOS embargo policy. Please note that PLOS does not grant exclusives to journalists or news outlets, and neither may authors or press officers unilaterally grant exclusives.

Individuals who break the embargo policy will be removed from PLOS’ press list for a period to be determined by PLOS.

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