Last updated: May 2026 · 4 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Key points
- CC BY 4.0 allows anyone to share, adapt, and use the work commercially — with attribution to the authors.
- CC BY-NC 4.0 restricts commercial use — the work may be shared and adapted only for non-commercial purposes.
- Plan S, Horizon Europe, NIH, and UKRI all require CC BY 4.0 (or equivalent). CC BY-NC does not satisfy these mandates.
- EP Journals Group publishes all articles under CC BY 4.0.
- Commercial use is broader than it sounds — university presses, for-profit hospitals, and educational companies may be considered commercial.
| Permission | CC BY 4.0 | CC BY-NC 4.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Read and download | Yes | Yes |
| Share and redistribute | Yes | Yes, non-commercial only |
| Adapt, translate, remix | Yes | Yes, non-commercial only |
| Use in commercial product | Yes | No |
| Satisfy Plan S / Horizon Europe mandate | Yes | No |
What counts as commercial use?
Commercial use does not only mean selling the article directly. It includes use in a textbook published by a for-profit publisher, reproduction in training materials sold by an educational company, and use by a for-profit hospital in internal training.
Funder mandates and CC BY-NC
Plan S requires CC BY 4.0 or an equivalent licence that permits all reuse including commercial. CC BY-NC does not satisfy Plan S.
EP Journals Group licence policy
All articles published in EP Journals Group journals are published under CC BY 4.0. This satisfies all major funder mandates and maximises the reach and reuse of published research.
Frequently asked questions
Related reading and next steps
Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org