Reviewer Agreement

Effective Date: 12/06/2025

In this agreement, the terms “Publisher,” “Journal,” “we,” “us,” and “our” all refer to Latent Scholar LLC, a Washington State limited liability company.

1. Voluntary Participation and Independent Contractor Status

1.1 Voluntary Nature

Participation as a reviewer is entirely voluntary and unpaid.
Reviewers may select which Article(s) to review and may decline any invitation.
Reviewers may withdraw from reviewing any Article at any time before submission without penalty.
Editors may invite potential reviewers, but participation remains entirely at the reviewer’s discretion.

1.2 Independent Contractor / Volunteer Status

You acknowledge and agree that:

(a) No Employment Relationship: You are not, and will not be deemed to be, an employee, agent, partner, joint venturer, or co-owner of Latent Scholar LLC. This is not an employment agreement.

(b) No Compensation or Benefits: You are not entitled to and will not receive:

Wages, salary, or hourly compensation;
Employee benefits (health insurance, retirement, paid leave);
Unemployment insurance or worker’s compensation coverage;
Tax withholding (you are responsible for your own taxes, if applicable);
Expense reimbursement (unless separately agreed in writing).

(c) Independent Decision-Making: You retain complete control over:

Whether to participate in the review process;
Which articles to review;
The content, timing, and manner of your Review;
When and where you perform review work.

(d) No Supervision or Control: Latent Scholar LLC does not supervise, direct, or control the manner or means by which you conduct your review. We provide general guidelines and structured forms, but you exercise independent professional judgment.

(e) Personal Benefit: You participate solely for your own purposes, which may include:

Professional development and staying current in your field;
Building your academic or professional reputation;
Networking and community engagement;
Contributing to scholarly discourse;
Personal interest in evaluating AI-generated content.

(f) No Exclusivity: You are free to provide similar services to other publications, journals, or organizations without restriction.

(g) At-Will Participation: Either party may terminate this relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice.

1.3 Tax Reporting

Latent Scholar LLC does not issue Form 1099 or any tax documentation for unpaid volunteer reviewers. If we provide any compensation, stipends, or benefits exceeding $600 in a calendar year, we will issue appropriate tax forms and you will be responsible for reporting such income.

1.4 Worker Classification Acknowledgment

BY AGREEING TO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU EXPLICITLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE NOT AN EMPLOYEE AND WAIVE ANY CLAIMS TO EMPLOYEE STATUS, BENEFITS, OR PROTECTIONS UNDER FEDERAL OR STATE EMPLOYMENT LAWS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Washington State Minimum Wage Act
Washington State workers’ compensation laws

If any court or agency determines that an employment relationship exists despite this Agreement, you agree that your employment is “at-will” and may be terminated at any time.

This waiver is made in recognition of the completely voluntary, non-compensated nature of your participation and your control over whether, when, and how you participate. To the extent any waiver in this section is found unenforceable, such finding shall not affect the validity of your volunteer status or other provisions of this Agreement.

1.5 International Reviewers

If you are located outside the United States, you acknowledge that:

(a) Washington State law governs this Agreement regardless of your location;
(b) certain provisions may not be enforceable in your jurisdiction to the extent they conflict with mandatory local law;
(c) you are solely responsible for compliance with any local laws applicable to your participation; and
(d) any employment protections waived in Section 1.4 are waived only to the extent permitted by applicable law in your jurisdiction.

2. Purpose

The Publisher seeks expert feedback on submitted manuscripts or works (“Article(s)”). Reviews are used to evaluate the quality, accuracy, and relevance of submissions and may be published by the Publisher.

Your review will be submitted via a structured form that includes:

Drop-down evaluations of key criteria (Accuracy & Validity, Evidence & Citations, Methodology / Approach, Reasoning & Argumentation, Structure & Clarity, Originality & Insight, Ethics & Responsible Use).
Text areas for Major Issues / Concerns, Minor Issues / Suggestions, and Reference-Check Notes.

By completing this form, you are providing a “Review” in the context of this Agreement, even if it is brief or structured.

3. Copyright Assignment

In consideration of: (a) the opportunity to participate in the scholarly review process; (b) access to AI-generated content for professional evaluation; (c) potential attribution and professional recognition; (d) contribution to the public scholarly record; and (e) other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged—you hereby assign to Latent Scholar LLC all copyright and other intellectual property rights in your Review.
Copyright assignment includes Reviews submitted through structured forms, including drop-down ratings and comment fields.
Any additional feedback or revisions provided to editors in response to follow-up requests (e.g., via email) are considered part of the Review and subject to the same copyright assignment.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you also waive any “moral rights” or rights of attribution and integrity you may have in the Review. This waiver allows the Publisher to edit, reformat, or modify the Review for clarity, length, or style as necessary for publication, provided that such edits do not materially alter the substantive meaning of your critique.

4. Anonymity and Publication Preference

When completing the review form, you will be asked to indicate whether your Review should be:

Published anonymously, or
Published under your name.

Your choice determines whether you are credited for the Review if it is published. Latent Scholar will honor your selection and may publish the Review accordingly. Your publication preference applies to all follow-up feedback submitted in response to editorial requests.

Limitations on Anonymity:

While we will honor your anonymity preference to the best of our ability, you acknowledge that anonymity cannot be guaranteed in the following circumstances:

(a) Legal compulsion (subpoena, court order, regulatory investigation);
(b) Defense of legal claims (if your identity is necessary to defend Publisher against claims arising from your Review);
(c) Investigation of ethical violations or professional misconduct;
(d) Technical errors, data breaches, or security incidents beyond our control;
(e) If your Review content, writing style, or specialized knowledge makes your identity reasonably identifiable to readers.

De-anonymization Risk: You acknowledge that:
– Anonymous reviews may be de-anonymized through stylometric analysis, specialized knowledge, or other means;
– We cannot prevent authors, readers, or researchers from attempting to identify anonymous reviewers;
– Anonymity protects identity but does not shield you from legal liability if your Review violates this Agreement.

If we must disclose your identity due to legal compulsion or defense of claims, we will provide you with notice if legally permitted.

5. Personal Data

Personal information collected as part of the review process will be handled in accordance with the Journal’s Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference into this Agreement. You acknowledge that you have read and understood the Privacy Policy, including the provisions regarding data sharing with third-party LLM providers.

6. Reviewer Representations, Warranties, and Standards of Conduct

By submitting a Review, you represent, warrant, and agree that:

6.1 Originality and Ownership

Your Review is your own original work (except for properly attributed quotes or AI-assisted content disclosed under Section 7);
You have the right to assign copyright in the Review;
Your Review does not infringe any third-party intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights.

6.2 Accuracy and Good Faith

All factual statements in your Review are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge;
You have made reasonable efforts to verify facts and citations before making critical statements;
Your Review is based on good-faith professional evaluation of the generated Article;
You will not knowingly make false, misleading, or exaggerated statements.

6.3 No Defamation or Harm

Your Review does not contain defamatory, libelous, slanderous, or disparaging statements about any person, author, researcher, institution, or organization;
Your Review does not make unfounded allegations of fraud, misconduct, or unethical behavior;
Critical statements are supported by specific evidence from the Article under review;
You will distinguish between fact and opinion, clearly labeling subjective judgments;
Your Review does not contain harassment, threats, hate speech, or discriminatory content.

6.4 Conflicts of Interest

You should disclose any relationships or circumstances that could reasonably bias your review of AI-generated content, including: Personal, professional, or financial relationships with the contributor who suggested the content (if applicable).

6.5 Confidentiality

You will not share AI-generated content, prompt inputs, or review details with third parties without Publisher authorization.
You will not publicly disclose your review before the Publisher publishes it (if at all).

6.6 AI Tool Use Disclosure and Responsibility

If you use AI tools to assist with your Review, you have:

Reviewed all AI-generated text for accuracy, bias, and appropriateness;
Verified factual claims and not relied solely on AI outputs;
Ensured the Review does not contain confidential information, personal data, or proprietary content;
Taken full responsibility for all AI-assisted content as if you wrote it yourself.
You acknowledge that AI tools may generate inaccurate, biased, or inappropriate content, and you bear sole responsibility for reviewing and correcting such content.

6.7 Professional and Ethical Standards

Your Review complies with professional standards and codes of ethics applicable to your field;
Your Review is constructive, respectful, and focuses on the work rather than attacking individuals;
You have not plagiarized content from other reviews, publications, or sources;
You will not submit substantially similar reviews to multiple publications without disclosure.

6.8 Structured Form Compliance

You have completed the structured review form fields in good faith;
Your ratings and written feedback reflect your genuine professional assessment;
You have provided specific, actionable feedback where critical issues are identified.

6.9 Voluntary Follow-Up Feedback

Any additional feedback you voluntarily provide to editors (e.g., via email) is also considered part of the Review and governed by this Agreement;
Such follow-up feedback is subject to the same standards and representations as the initial Review.

6.10 No Prohibited Content

Your Review does not contain:

Illegal content or instructions for illegal activities;
Malware, viruses, or malicious code;
Spam, advertising, or promotional content;
Personally identifiable information (PII) about third parties without consent;
Obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit material (except where necessary for academic critique);
Hate speech or content that incites violence or discrimination.

6.11 Attribution and Responsibility

Regardless of whether you choose anonymous or attributed publication (Section 4), you remain legally responsible for the content of your Review;
You acknowledge that your identity may be disclosed if required by law, court order, or to defend against legal claims.

BREACH OF REPRESENTATIONS: If you breach any of these representations, you agree to:

Immediately notify Latent Scholar LLC;
Cooperate in correcting or retracting the Review;
Bear all costs and liabilities arising from the breach, including indemnification under Section 12.

7. Use of AI Tools

Reviewers may use AI tools to assist in writing the Review but must ensure that any AI-assisted text has been checked for accuracy and does not contain confidential information. The Reviewer remains fully responsible for the content submitted.

8. Ethical Standards

Reviews should be professional, unbiased, and constructive.
Identify any ethical concerns, unsafe recommendations, fabricated data, or misrepresented sources in your Major/Minor Issues or Any notes on the citations and references? (if any) fields.
Ensure clarity between well-established knowledge and speculation in your comments.

9. Use of Reviews

Latent Scholar LLC may use, reproduce, distribute, and publish Reviews in whole or in part.
Latent Scholar LLC retains sole discretion over whether to publish, edit, or remove any Review. Submission of a Review does not guarantee publication.

10. No Confidential Notes Field

The current structured form does not include a private “Confidential Notes to Editors” field. Any sensitive concerns must be communicated directly to editors outside the form if necessary.

11. Review Removal and Retraction

11.1 Publisher’s Right to Remove

Latent Scholar LLC reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to:

(a) Reject any Review before publication;
(b) Remove any published Review at any time;
(c) Edit or modify Reviews for length, clarity, formatting, or to correct obvious errors (without changing substantive meaning);
(d) Add editorial notes, corrections, or clarifications to published Reviews.

11.2 Grounds for Removal

Reviews may be removed or retracted if they:

Violate this Agreement, the Terms of Use, or Privacy Policy;
Contain defamatory, false, or misleading statements;
Infringe intellectual property or other third-party rights;
Violate professional or ethical standards;
Are subject to legal claims or court orders;
Were submitted in error or by an unauthorized party;
Contain confidential information that should not have been disclosed;
Are substantially AI-generated without meaningful human review.

11.3 Reviewer-Requested Removal

Reviewers may request removal of their Reviews by contacting info@latentscholar.org. Publisher will consider such requests but is not obligated to grant them, particularly if:
– The Review is part of the scholarly record;
– Removal would compromise the integrity of the article evaluation;
– The Review has been cited or referenced by others;
– Legal or contractual obligations require retention.

11.4 Effect of Removal

Even if a Review is removed from the website:
– Archived copies may persist in internet archives, search engines, or third-party databases;
– Copyright assignment under Section 3 remains in effect;
– Your indemnification obligations under Section 12 survive;
– Publisher retains internal records for audit and legal purposes.

11.5 No Liability for Editorial Decisions

Publisher is not liable for decisions to publish, edit, or remove Reviews, or for consequences resulting from such decisions.

12. Indemnification and Defense of Claims

12.1 Indemnification Obligation

You agree to indemnify, defend (at Publisher’s option), and hold harmless Latent Scholar LLC, its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, successors, and assigns (collectively, “Indemnified Parties”) from and against any and all claims, demands, lawsuits, proceedings, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, and court costs) arising out of or relating to:

(a) Content of Your Review: Any defamatory, false, misleading, inaccurate, or harmful statements in your Review, including:

Defamation, libel, slander, or disparagement of any person or entity;
False allegations of fraud, misconduct, or unethical behavior;
Unfounded attacks on professional competence or reputation;
Privacy violations or unauthorized disclosure of personal information;

(b) Intellectual Property Violations: Any infringement of copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, or other intellectual property rights through plagiarism or unauthorized use of third-party content;

(c) Breach of This Agreement: Violation of any representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation in this Agreement, including:

Misrepresentation of originality or authorship;
Failure to disclose conflicts of interest;
Breach of confidentiality;
Inappropriate use of AI tools;

(d) Professional Misconduct: Violation of professional or ethical standards applicable to your field, including:

Fabrication or falsification of review content;
Bias or discrimination in reviews;
Misuse of confidential information;
Harassment or unprofessional conduct;

(e) Third-Party Claims: Claims by authors, institutions, or other parties alleging harm from your Review;

(f) Violations of Law: Your violation of any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation;

(g) AI Tool Misuse: Errors, inaccuracies, or harm resulting from your use of AI tools in creating your Review;

(h) Unauthorized Actions: Any action you take beyond the scope of your authority as a volunteer reviewer.

12.2 Defense Obligations

If a claim subject to indemnification is asserted:

(a) Notice: Latent Scholar LLC will provide you with prompt written notice of the claim (though failure to provide timely notice does not eliminate your indemnification obligation unless you are materially prejudiced);

(b) Control of Defense: Latent Scholar LLC may, at its sole discretion:

Control the defense and settlement of the claim (with your reasonable cooperation); or
Require you to defend the claim at your expense using counsel reasonably acceptable to Publisher;

(c) No Settlement Without Consent: You may not settle any claim without Publisher’s prior written consent;

(d) Cooperation: You agree to cooperate fully in the defense, including providing documents, testimony, and information;

(e) Separate Counsel: You may retain separate counsel at your own expense.

12.3 Costs and Expenses

In any claim covered by Section 12.1, you agree to pay your own defense costs and any damages, settlements, or judgments arising from your conduct. Latent Scholar LLC shall be responsible for its own defense costs unless your conduct is found to have caused the claim, in which case you agree to reimburse our reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs upon final resolution.

12.4 Survival

This indemnification obligation survives termination of your participation as a reviewer and publication or removal of your Review.

12.5 No Insurance Requirement

You are not required to maintain professional liability insurance, but you acknowledge that your indemnification obligations may result in significant financial liability if claims arise. You may wish to consult your own insurance advisor.

12.6 Acknowledgment of Risk

BY AGREEING TO THIS AGREEMENT, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

Defamation and IP infringement claims can result in substantial damages;
You may be personally liable for damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs;
Latent Scholar LLC does not maintain insurance covering your actions as a reviewer;
You should exercise caution and professional judgment in all Reviews.

13. Publisher’s Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, LATENT SCHOLAR LLC’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR PARTICIPATION AS A REVIEWER SHALL NOT EXCEED ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

IN NO EVENT SHALL LATENT SCHOLAR LLC BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

Loss of professional reputation or opportunities;
Emotional distress or personal injury;
Loss of time or opportunity costs;
Claims by third parties related to your Reviews;
Decisions to publish, edit, or remove your Reviews;
Technical failures, data loss, or security breaches;
Actions or omissions of other reviewers, editors, or authors.

YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU PARTICIPATE AS A VOLUNTEER FOR YOUR OWN BENEFIT AND ASSUME ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE REVIEW PROCESS.

14. Governing Law; Venue

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Washington, U.S.A.; without regard to conflict-of-law principles. Exclusive venue for disputes is the state or federal courts located in Spokane County, Washington, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.

15. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

15.1 Binding Arbitration

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Agreement or your participation as a reviewer (collectively, “Disputes”) shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules, except as provided below.

15.2 Arbitration Procedures

– Arbitration will be conducted in Spokane County, Washington, or remotely by mutual agreement;
– The arbitration shall be conducted by a single arbitrator;
– The arbitrator’s decision shall be final and binding;
– Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction;
– Each party bears its own attorneys’ fees unless the arbitrator awards fees to the prevailing party;
– Discovery shall be limited as determined by the arbitrator.

15.3 Exceptions to Arbitration

Either party may:

Seek injunctive or equitable relief in court to protect intellectual property rights or enforce confidentiality;
Pursue claims in small claims court if the claim qualifies;
Report ethical violations to professional organizations or regulatory agencies.

15.4 No Class Proceedings

ARBITRATION MUST BE CONDUCTED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS ONLY, NOT AS A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S CLAIMS OR PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS PROCEEDING.

15.5 Opt-Out Right

You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to info@latentscholar.org within 30 days of first agreeing to this Reviewer Agreement. Your notice must include your name, email address, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out. If you opt out, Disputes will be resolved in court pursuant to Section 14.

15.6 Survival

This arbitration provision survives termination of your reviewer relationship.

16. Severability

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. If Section 1.4 (employment law waiver) is found unenforceable in your jurisdiction, that section shall be severed and the remainder of this Agreement shall remain binding.

17. Entire Agreement

This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the Reviewer and Latent Scholar LLC regarding copyright ownership of Reviews. The Reviewer also agrees to comply with the Journal’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, each incorporated herein by reference.