Repository takedown policy

The University of West London takes reasonable steps to ensure that the materials held within its Repository are an accurate and authentic record of research activity within this institution.

All materials deposited within the UWL Repository are made available in accordance with publisher policies (as detailed in SHERPA RoMEO) and/or with permission from rights holders. 

Material is not intended for removal except in keeping with internal policy (at the request of Research Cluster heads or Heads of School) or upon receipt of a valid and proven complaint.

Acceptable reasons for complaint may include the following:

• A breach of publishers’ rules and regulations (for example, an embargo breach, or a final publisher version being made available when only a pre- or post-print is allowed)
• A violation of intellectual property rights (including moral rights or copyright)
• A legislative breach (for example, data protection or defamation)
• Matters of National Security
• Falsified research, plagiarism or failure to follow ethical guidelines

Complaints must be in written form specifying reasons why the material should not be available in the UWL Repository and should be emailed to openaccess@uwl.ac.uk or posted to the attention of the Research Support Manager at the University of West London, Paul Hamlyn Library, Peter John Building, St Mary’s Road, Ealing W5 5RF.

Full-text material which has been requested for removal will be restricted to Repository Staff only (within 48 hours of the request being received), and while the complaint is being investigated, the relevant metadata will remain searchable.  For items where the internal process is dictating the removal of material, the metadata will also be removed from public view.

The complaint will be escalated by the Research Support Manager to a member of the Library Management Team in the first instance, and subsequently escalated to the member of Vice Chancellor’s Executive with responsibility for Research as necessary.

In cases where it is unclear whether a complaint is ultimately justified, the final decision will rest with the University Secretary.