What “open access” means at AAAI
Archives of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (AAAI) is an open access journal. “Open access” means that readers can access published articles online without subscription barriers. In practice, this supports faster knowledge dissemination for clinicians, researchers, educators, and policy makers. For asthma and allergy care, open access has special value: findings can reach primary care clinicians, community health programs, and patients who may not have institutional subscriptions.
AAAI follows a Gold Open Access publishing approach—articles are made openly available on the journal website as part of the formal publication record. The journal aims to provide consistent access to final formatted articles, citation-ready metadata, and licensing statements that allow lawful reuse.
Gold Open Access (plain-language)
Gold OA means the journal makes the final published version openly available immediately, and reuse rights are made clear through a recognized public license.
License used by AAAI (CC BY 4.0)
AAAI publishes articles under a Creative Commons license to make reuse permissions clear. Unless otherwise stated for specific third-party materials, AAAI articles are available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0).
Under CC BY 4.0, anyone may copy, distribute, transmit, and adapt the work, including for commercial purposes, provided that appropriate credit is given, a link to the license is provided, and changes (if any) are indicated. This aligns with common funder expectations for open access licensing and supports broad educational reuse.
How to attribute correctly
Proper attribution should include: the author(s), article title, journal name, year, DOI (or permanent URL), and the license reference (CC BY 4.0). If the content is adapted, clearly state what was changed. This prevents confusion and protects the integrity of the scholarly record.
| Minimum attribution elements | Authors, title, journal, year, DOI/URL, and “Licensed under CC BY 4.0” |
|---|---|
| If you adapt content | Use “Adapted from…” and state what changed (e.g., labels, colors, shortened text) |
| Avoid implied endorsement | Do not suggest that AAAI or the original authors endorse your derivative work unless you have explicit permission |
Third-party material inside an article
If an article contains third-party figures, scales, or other content that is not owned by the authors, that material may be labeled with separate rights. In those cases, the third-party rights statement controls reuse of that specific item.
Author rights and sharing
Open access should benefit authors as much as it benefits readers. AAAI supports lawful sharing and reuse by authors, provided that the scholarly record remains accurate and traceable. Authors are encouraged to share links to their published work widely to improve visibility and impact.
What authors can do (typical examples)
- Share the article link: post on personal websites, institutional pages, and social media.
- Deposit in repositories: upload the final published PDF or accepted manuscript where permitted by repository policy, including DOI and license statement.
- Use in teaching: incorporate figures and tables in lectures with proper attribution.
- Translate summaries: prepare plain-language or translated summaries for patient/community outreach with citation and license reference.
What authors should avoid
- Posting content with removed citations or altered conclusions that could mislead readers.
- Reusing third-party content without honoring the original rights restrictions.
- Uploading incomplete/incorrect versions without clear version labeling.
Repository tip
If you deposit the PDF in a repository, include the full citation and DOI in the repository record. This helps readers find corrections, updates, or retractions if they occur later.
Funder and institutional open access compliance
Many funders and institutions require research outputs to be openly accessible and to carry a license that permits reuse. AAAI’s open access licensing is designed to support common compliance expectations by making the publication immediately available online and by providing a standardized license (CC BY 4.0).
If your funder requires a specific license, repository deposit workflow, or metadata fields (e.g., grant numbers), include these details at submission. The journal may reflect funding information in the published article to support compliance and transparency.
Practical compliance checklist
Before submission, confirm: (1) funder OA requirements, (2) required license, (3) required acknowledgments/grant numbers, and (4) repository deposit expectations. Providing this information early reduces post-acceptance delays.
How open access is funded (APCs and transparency)
Open access publishing requires resources: editorial administration, peer review operations, production (typesetting, layout, proofreading), platform hosting, DOI registration/metadata management, and archiving support. In many Gold OA models, these costs are supported through an Article Processing Charge (APC) paid by authors, institutions, or funders after acceptance.
AAAI maintains a dedicated APC page for current fees and any discounts or waivers that may apply. Fees should be viewed as part of the publication service and not as a payment for acceptance. Editorial decisions are made independently based on merit and integrity, not on an author’s ability to pay.
| When APCs apply | Typically after acceptance, as part of production and publication processing (see APC page for details). |
|---|---|
| Independence | Payment status does not influence peer review outcomes or editorial decisions. |
| Waivers/discounts | Where available, waiver decisions are handled transparently according to the Waiver Policy. |
Equity and access
AAAI recognizes that authors’ funding capacity varies. Where feasible, waivers or discounts may be available under a published waiver policy to reduce barriers to dissemination.
Archiving, preservation, and discoverability
Open access is not only about immediate access; it is also about long-term availability. AAAI supports durable access through a combination of stable article URLs, DOI assignment, metadata exposure, and archiving/preservation practices described on related journal pages (Indexing & Archiving, Repository Policy, Preservation and Archiving Policy).
Authors can strengthen long-term access by depositing their articles in reputable repositories and by using the DOI when sharing citations. Readers and indexers benefit from consistent metadata (title, authors, affiliations, abstract, keywords, license).
Metadata is part of open access
Open access works best when metadata is complete and consistent. AAAI supports this by maintaining clear citation blocks, DOI display, and licensing information on article pages and PDFs.
Ethical open access: quality and integrity safeguards
AAAI’s open access model is paired with editorial and ethical safeguards that protect research integrity. Open access does not reduce standards; it increases visibility, which makes rigorous peer review and transparent policies even more important. AAAI maintains screening and review procedures to address plagiarism, authorship issues, conflicts of interest, and ethical approvals, especially for clinical studies and case reports.
If an article requires correction or retraction, AAAI updates the public record to maintain transparency. This is a key part of ethical open access: errors should not be hidden behind access barriers.
Frequently asked questions
Is AAAI a subscription journal?
No. AAAI is an open access journal; readers can access published articles online without subscription barriers.
Can I reuse AAAI content in my thesis or course materials?
Yes. CC BY 4.0 allows reuse with attribution. Include the full citation, DOI/URL, and the license reference. If you adapt content, note the changes.
Does paying an APC guarantee acceptance?
No. Editorial decisions are based on scientific merit, scope, and ethical compliance. APCs (where applicable) support publication services and are typically handled after acceptance.
What if my funder requires a specific license?
Inform the journal at submission. AAAI aims to use widely accepted open licenses, and the editorial office can advise on compatibility and workflow requirements.
Can I deposit the article in an institutional repository?
Yes, typically with proper citation, DOI, and license statement. See the Repository Policy for detailed deposit guidance.
