Legacy data policy types
All Springer Nature journals are moving to a policy that requires data availability statements for primary research articles. This is already in place for BMC, Nature and SpringerOpen titles and is being progressively adopted by Springer and Palgrave Macmillan journals.
While the implementation is underway, certain Springer and Palgrave Macmillan journals will retain the older data policy types, as outlined below. The specific data policy of each journal is stated in the submission guidance. ‘Type 3’ is equivalent to our new, standardised data policy.
Our legacy data policies
| Policy Type | Policy summary |
| Type 1 | Data sharing and data citation is encouraged |
| Type 2 | Data sharing and evidence of data sharing encouraged |
| Type 3 | Data sharing encouraged and statements of data availability required |
| Type 4 | Data sharing, evidence of data sharing and peer review of data required |
