Open community review
On PubArx, credibility is earned in public. Researchers endorse papers and, when the authors invite it, review them openly, with names, and per version.
Two ways to publish
- Preprint only. Share your work with a dated, public record. Researchers can discuss and endorse it, but no formal reviews are requested.
- Open for review. The paper receives an “Open for review” label and researchers can also publish structured reviews. Authors can switch this on or off at any time; existing reviews always stay public.
Who can take part
To comment, review or endorse you need a PubArx account with a confirmed email address and an ORCID iD linked through ORCID sign-in. Typing an ORCID number is not enough: signing in with ORCID shows that you control that record. Each ORCID iD can be linked to only one PubArx account. Authors can always respond on their own papers.
What ORCID sign-in does not show. It confirms control of an ORCID record. It does not confirm a person’s qualifications, expertise or affiliation; readers should judge each review on its content.
Conflicts of interest
Before publishing a review or endorsement, you must sign this declaration:
I declare that I have no conflict of interest with this paper: in the past three years I have not co-authored with, supervised or been supervised by any of its authors; I do not share an institution with any of them; and I have no financial or personal relationship that could bias my assessment.
PubArx also blocks reviews and endorsements automatically when the reviewer is an author or submitter of the paper, or lists the same affiliation as one of its authors. Readers and authors can report suspected undisclosed conflicts; moderators investigate every report.
Reviews
A review states an overall assessment (scientifically sound, sound with minor revisions, major revisions needed or not scientifically sound), together with the reviewer’s self-declared expertise, a summary, and major and minor concerns. Reviews are published immediately, signed with the reviewer’s name and ORCID iD, and cannot be edited afterwards. They express the opinion of the reviewer, not of PubArx.
Endorsements
An endorsement is a short, signed statement that the endorser has read the paper and considers it sound and valuable. Every published paper can be endorsed, whether or not its authors requested reviews, by the same researchers who may review: ORCID sign-in, the no-conflict declaration, not an author and no shared affiliation. Papers with three or more endorsements on their current version show a “Community endorsed” label. An endorsement is the view of the person who gives it, not a certification by PubArx.
Versions and responses
Reviews, endorsements and comments belong to the exact version they discuss. When authors post a revision, they describe what changed and how they addressed the reviews; readers can compare versions word by word. Discussion of earlier versions stays available as a record, and new contributions go to the latest version.
Conferences and workshops
Conferences, workshops and symposia can review their papers on PubArx, with the same openness as every other review.
- Submitting. Authors submit a published paper to a venue while its call for papers is open, from the venue page or the paper page, or choose the venue when they submit a new paper (it enters the venue once it has been screened and published). A paper is under review at one venue at a time, and submitting opens it for community review.
- Invited reviewers. The organisers invite reviewers for each paper. Invited reviewers follow the rules above: ORCID sign-in, the no-conflict declaration, and no shared affiliation with the authors. They can decline an invitation.
- Reviews. Invited reviews are ordinary public reviews, signed and attached to the version they discuss, and are marked “Invited reviewer” with the name of the venue. Other researchers can still review the paper, and the authors can respond to everyone.
- Decisions. The organisers decide whether to accept each paper. Accepted papers show “Accepted at” with the name of the venue and are listed on its page. A decision not to accept is sent only to the authors; the paper and its reviews stay public as before.
- Withdrawing. Authors can withdraw a paper from a venue until it is decided. Reviews already published stay public.
Reputation, levels and rankings
Scores, reviewer levels and rankings summarise activity on PubArx, such as reviews published and “helpful” votes received. They are meant to recognise contributions to the community. They are not a certification of expertise or of the quality of any individual review.
Rules for contributions
Contributions must be about the work, specific and respectful. Do not make personal attacks or unsupported accusations of misconduct, and do not post confidential information or other people’s personal data. Contributions are published under CC BY 4.0; see the Terms of use.
To limit abuse, each account can post at most 5 reviews, 20 endorsements and 40 comments per day.
Reports, corrections and appeals
- Report a contribution with the “Report” link under it. Moderators review every report and can hide contributions that break these rules, for example undisclosed conflicts, coordinated or fake activity, harassment, defamatory statements or spam. Hidden contributions remain on record and the public reason is shown in their place. Accounts involved in manipulation may be suspended.
- Correct your own review. Reviews cannot be edited, so that readers can rely on what was published. Post a follow-up reply under your review to correct or update it, or contact us if a correction is urgent, for example if the review contains personal data by mistake.
- Respond as an author. Authors can reply publicly to every review and comment on their papers.
- Appeal a moderation decision. If your contribution was hidden, or you disagree with how a report was handled, write to legal@pubarx.com within 30 days and explain why. Where possible, a different moderator or administrator reviews the appeal.