Respectful Author Identity
Author names are part of scholarly identity. Requests involving name spelling, legal name change, personal name change or privacy sensitivity should be handled respectfully, carefully and without unnecessary disclosure.
Author Identity and Publication Metadata
Author Name Change Policy
This policy explains how UnivColl Publications handles author name spelling corrections, personal or legal name changes, privacy-sensitive updates, DOI metadata correction and responsible maintenance of the scholarly publication record.
Policy Purpose
Respectful Name Updates Without Weakening the Scholarly Record
Author names are central to recognition, citation, attribution and academic identity. UnivColl Publications provides a structured process for correcting or updating author names while protecting privacy, metadata accuracy, citation reliability and publication integrity.
This policy applies to journals, books, edited volumes, book chapters, conference proceedings and other scholarly records published or managed by UnivColl Publications.
Important Distinction
Name change is not the same as authorship change.
This page is for correcting or updating the name of an already listed author. Adding, removing, replacing or reordering authors requires a separate authorship change review process and may require written confirmation from all authors.
Core Principles
How Author Name Requests Are Considered
The following principles guide editorial and publisher handling of name correction, identity update and privacy-sensitive author metadata requests.
Integrity of the Scholarly Record
Name updates must preserve the reliability of the publication record, citation record, DOI metadata, authorship responsibility and article history.
Privacy-Sensitive Handling
Where a name change is connected to privacy, personal safety, gender identity, marital status, cultural naming practice or other sensitive reason, the request should be treated with appropriate confidentiality.
Metadata Consistency
Approved changes should be reflected as consistently as possible across article pages, PDFs, journal records, DOI metadata, indexing feeds and publisher archives, subject to technical and third-party limitations.
Eligible Requests
Name Correction and Name Update Categories
UnivColl Publications may consider requests that improve the accuracy, dignity, consistency or privacy of author name presentation without creating uncertainty about authorship responsibility.
Name Spelling Correction
Correction of typographical errors, missing initials, incorrect sequence of name parts, transliteration errors or minor spelling inconsistencies.
Example: correcting 'Rahul Kumr' to 'Rahul Kumar' or adding a missing middle initial when verified.
Legal or Personal Name Change
Update of the author’s published name due to a legal, personal, cultural, marital, professional or privacy-related change.
Example: updating a name after legal change, personal identity change or preference for a consistent academic name.
Name Presentation Adjustment
Adjustment in display format where the same author identity remains clear, such as expanding initials or standardizing name order.
Example: changing 'A. K. Sharma' to 'Anil Kumar Sharma' when author identity is verified.
Metadata Name Alignment
Correction of inconsistency between manuscript, article landing page, PDF, certificate, ORCID, DOI record or journal database.
Example: article page shows one spelling while PDF or DOI metadata shows another spelling.
Not Covered by This Policy
Matters That Require Separate Editorial Review
Some requests may appear similar to name correction but actually affect authorship, responsibility, contribution, academic accountability or research integrity. Such matters may require a different process.
- Adding a new author, removing an author or changing author order after submission or publication.
- Changing contribution claims, corresponding author responsibility or authorship credit without editorial review.
- Resolving authorship disputes between co-authors or institutions without written confirmation and editorial assessment.
- Replacing one author with another author or using a name change request to hide misconduct, duplicate submission or false identity.
- Changing affiliation, designation, department or institutional address unless it is part of a separate verified metadata correction request.
Request Information
What Authors Should Provide
Authors should provide enough information to identify the publication record and confirm the requested update. Sensitive personal details should be minimized.
Article title, journal name and, where available, DOI or article URL.
Current name exactly as it appears on the publication record.
Requested name exactly as it should appear after correction or update.
Author’s email address used during submission or another verifiable contact address.
Brief explanation of the request. Sensitive personal details should not be shared unless necessary.
Confirmation that the request concerns the same author and does not involve adding, removing or reordering authors.
ORCID iD or institutional/profile link, where available, to support identity consistency.
Review Workflow
How a Name Change Request Is Processed
Requests are handled with attention to identity verification, metadata accuracy, privacy, editorial integrity and long-term publication record consistency.
Request Received
The author sends a name change or name correction request to the editorial office or publisher contact channel with article details and the requested display name.
Identity and Record Check
The editorial office checks whether the request relates to the same author and whether it is a spelling correction, personal name update or a wider authorship change issue.
Editorial or Publisher Approval
Straightforward spelling or metadata corrections may be handled administratively. Complex cases may be referred to the editor, publisher or relevant journal office.
Publication Record Update
Approved changes may be applied to the article landing page, PDF, journal database, certificate record and other publisher-controlled records where technically possible.
Metadata and Indexing Update
Where DOI metadata or indexing metadata has already been deposited, the publisher may update available metadata records. Third-party platforms may take time to refresh.
Confirmation
The author may receive confirmation after the publisher-controlled records are updated or after the request is reviewed.
Publication Record Areas
DOI and Metadata Status
Where an Approved Name Update May Appear
Approved name updates may affect multiple records. Publisher-controlled records can usually be updated more directly than external indexing systems.
Article Landing Page
The author name displayed on the HTML article page may be updated after approval.
Published PDF
PDF update may be considered where technically possible, especially for spelling corrections or privacy-sensitive name updates.
DOI Metadata
If DOI metadata has been registered or prepared, the publisher may update author metadata according to the publication workflow.
Certificate or Record Page
Publication certificate or verification records may be updated if the change is approved and the author identity remains clear.
Indexing and Discovery Platforms
Third-party systems may not update immediately. Their refresh schedule, indexing rules and metadata processing are outside the direct control of the publisher.
Archives and Backups
Internal backups or preservation copies may retain historical versions for integrity, continuity or audit reasons, but public records may be updated where appropriate.
Privacy and Dignity
Confidential and Proportionate Handling
A name change may involve sensitive personal circumstances. UnivColl Publications aims to handle such requests with respect, confidentiality and proportionate record correction.
- Authors are not required to publicly explain sensitive personal reasons for a name change request.
- The publisher should avoid unnecessary publication of former names where a privacy-sensitive name change is approved.
- A correction notice may not be required for a private name update when the scholarly record can remain clear without exposing sensitive details.
- Where citation integrity or authorship accountability requires a visible notice, the wording should be minimal, respectful and proportionate.
- Documents or identity evidence submitted for verification should not be displayed publicly.
Decision Criteria
When a Request May Be Approved, Clarified or Declined
The publisher or journal office may approve straightforward corrections, request additional clarification or decline changes that create authorship, identity or integrity concerns.
Same Author Identity
The request should clearly relate to the same author already listed on the publication record.
No Authorship Manipulation
The request must not be used to add, remove, replace or reorder authors without the applicable authorship change process.
Metadata Accuracy
The requested name should improve accuracy, consistency, privacy or author identity in the scholarly record.
Editorial Integrity
The change should not conceal misconduct, duplicate publication, fraudulent authorship or unresolved dispute.
Request Template
Suggested Author Name Change Request Format
Authors may use this format when contacting the journal office or publisher. Do not include unnecessary sensitive personal details in the first message.
Subject: Author Name Change / Name Correction Request Article title: Journal name: DOI or article URL: Current published name: Requested updated name: ORCID iD / profile link, if available: Reason for request: spelling correction / legal name change / personal name update / privacy-sensitive request / metadata mismatch I confirm that this request concerns the same author and does not involve adding, removing or reordering authors.
Author Name Change FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers help authors understand common name correction and post-publication name update situations.
Can an author name be corrected before publication?
Yes. Authors should check names carefully during submission, revision and proof stage. Name corrections before final publication are usually easier than post-publication updates.
Can an author name be changed after publication?
A post-publication name change or correction request may be considered when the author identity is verified and the request does not create an authorship dispute or misrepresentation.
Will a public correction notice always be issued?
Not always. For privacy-sensitive name changes, the publisher may update the record without unnecessary public disclosure, where scholarly integrity can still be maintained.
Can I use this policy to add or remove an author?
No. Adding, removing or reordering authors is an authorship change matter and may require written consent from all authors, editorial review and separate approval.
How long will third-party platforms take to update the name?
Publisher-controlled pages may be updated first. External indexing, discovery and citation platforms may update according to their own processing schedules.
Author Identity Support
Connected Author Journey for Author Name Change Policy
Author identity correction support for published and submitted records. Use the related author pages, publisher policies and official support routes below to move through the publication process with clarity, transparency and responsible scholarly practice.
Next Author Pages
Related Publisher Links
Responsible External Links
Open Accessreader visibility where applicable
Peer Revieweditorial and review workflow
Ethicsoriginality and declaration focus
Metadataauthor, DOI and record clarity