The following document sets out the terms in which the Microbiology Society ("The Publisher") is prepared to grant access to the content published on the Microbiology Society publishing platform (“The Platform”).

1. Copyright

The Publisher owns the copyright of the journals on the Platform; the copyright holder of each article is given within that article. The Publisher warrants that it has the authority to make available the Platform and that it has secured all rights and permissions necessary to enable Users to utilise such materials in compliance with these Terms and Conditions.

2. Usage rights: what Users are allowed to do

• Users may search, view, display, download, store and print out individual articles or other items from the Platform for their scholarly, educational, research or personal use.
• Users may distribute copies of individual articles from the Platform, to other Users for their personal use.
• Users may provide metadata with appropriate links to one or more individual articles for inclusion in course packs and e-reserves.
• Users may supply print or electronic copies of individual articles or items from the Platform to individual third parties on request for medical information purposes, provided that no more than 10 copies of a specific article or item are supplied. For additional copies, contact [email protected] for commercial reprint rights.

3. Usage restrictions: what Users are not allowed to do

• Systematic or programmatic downloading (e.g. the use of automated robots or otherwise downloading or attempting to download in a short time period large amounts of material such as all abstracts and/or full-text articles from entire publication issues or extensive search results), is forbidden.
• Articles may not be copied or distributed for commercial use.
• Articles may not be translated, altered, re-compiled, manipulated or used to prepare derivative works without permission from the Publisher.
• The authors’ names, copyright notices or other means of identification may not be removed from or altered as they appear in articles.
• Unless permission is explicitly granted, articles may not be mounted or distributed on any electronic network.

4. Disclaimer of warranties

• In no event shall the Publisher be liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use of the articles or other material derived from the journals, whether or not advised of the possibility of damage, and on any theory of liability.
• The Publisher represents and warrants that it has the power to enter into this agreement and to grant the rights conferred herein and that the articles and other material derived from the journals do not violate or infringe upon any patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary right or contract right of any third party.
• This publication is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement. Descriptions of, or references to, products or publications does not imply endorsement of that product or publication.
• There is no guarantee that the information contained in the online version of the journal is identical to the print version of the journal and the Publisher has any duty to update the information contained on the online version to correct errors or otherwise.