Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), a global pioneer in voluntary collective licensing and information management solutions, has announced a new collaboration with the China Educational Publications Import & Export Corporation (CEPIEC). CEPIEC is the leading distributor of international scholarly content to the Chinese market and a key exporter of Chinese academic and educational materials to the rest of the world.
Through this partnership, CCC will integrate CEPIEC’s SocoPay payment system into RightsLink for Scientific Communications (RLSC), CCC’s widely adopted Open Access (OA) workflow solution. This integration will enable scholarly journal publishers to provide localized payment capabilities for authors in China—simplifying how Article Publishing Charges (APCs) are collected and processed.
The collaboration represents an important advancement in CCC’s mission to make publishing more efficient, inclusive, and globally accessible, while helping authors in China participate more seamlessly in international scientific communication.
Enhancing Open Access Through Localized Payments
RLSC is CCC’s turnkey solution for managing Open Access publishing operations. It automates complex workflows—such as OA funding agreements, APC billing, and Subscribe to Open (S2O) programs—for publishers, institutions, funders, and authors.
By integrating CEPIEC’s SocoPay, authors in China will now be able to complete APC payments using familiar and trusted local payment methods, including WeChat Pay and Alipay. This addresses a long-standing barrier for Chinese authors who often faced challenges completing international transactions due to currency restrictions, cross-border fees, and platform incompatibilities.
“The CEPIEC payment process will serve a vital regional need in CCC’s leading OA workflow solution,” said Zegui Xie, Vice President of CEPIEC. “Authors can conveniently complete APC payments using popular Chinese internet payment applications such as WeChat and Alipay, making it easier than ever to manage article publishing charges.”
This seamless experience ensures that authors can focus on publishing their research rather than navigating payment complexities—thereby supporting CCC’s goal of removing administrative burdens from researchers and accelerating the global dissemination of knowledge.
A Localized Solution for a Global Publishing Ecosystem
The integration of SocoPay into RLSC is more than a technical enhancement—it is a strategic move that recognizes China’s expanding role in global research output. Chinese researchers now contribute to a significant portion of the world’s scholarly publications, and ensuring they have smooth access to publishing systems is essential for equitable participation in Open Access publishing.
“This integration will enhance the billing and payment of publication charges that CCC collects on publishers’ behalf from authors in China,” said Emily Sheahan, Vice President and Managing Director at CCC. “Authors in China will now enjoy a localized payment experience tailored to their needs within RLSC.”
For publishers, the new functionality means simplified transaction processing, faster payment reconciliation, and reduced administrative overhead. For authors, it means greater convenience, transparency, and trust when submitting their manuscripts and handling associated costs.
RLSC’s new capabilities ensure that publishers can maintain compliance with OA funding mandates, offer authors regional payment options, and manage financial reporting—all through a single, unified platform.
Streamlined Open Access Management with RLSC
RightsLink for Scientific Communications (RLSC) has become a cornerstone technology for publishers transitioning to Open Access models. The system integrates directly with major manuscript submission platforms, enabling a frictionless experience from submission to publication.
Key features of RLSC include:
- Automated OA Funding and Agreements: Supports institutional OA funding arrangements and S2O programs, automatically applying eligibility rules during the submission and acceptance process.
- Simplified Payment Collection: Consolidates APC billing, making it easy for publishers to collect fees from individuals, institutions, and funders through diverse payment channels.
- Transparency and Efficiency: Offers real-time tracking, compliance reporting, and secure financial processing—reducing manual oversight and potential errors.
- Flexibility Across Publishing Models: Accommodates single APC payments as well as large-scale institutional agreements, ensuring scalability for publishers of all sizes.
By automating these complex processes, RLSC enables publishers to focus on advancing Open Access strategies and building closer relationships with their research communities, rather than managing administrative logistics.
Advancing Research Access and Global Collaboration
The partnership with CEPIEC marks a new phase in CCC’s efforts to strengthen global scholarly communication through localized innovation. By combining CCC’s workflow technology with CEPIEC’s deep understanding of China’s academic publishing ecosystem, the collaboration supports a shared vision: advancing equitable access to research and knowledge worldwide.
CEPIEC’s SocoPay platform—developed as part of its broader open access initiatives—was created to simplify online transactions for research institutions, libraries, and authors. The system ensures secure, compliant, and user-friendly payment processing within China’s digital ecosystem, aligning perfectly with CCC’s commitment to accessibility and efficiency in scholarly publishing.
Since its founding in 1987 under China’s Ministry of Education, CEPIEC has become a trusted intermediary in global academic exchange. Its platforms, Socolar (for open access discovery) and SocoPay (for research payment management), exemplify its leadership in bridging international collaboration.
“CEPIEC has long been dedicated to enabling the global exchange of academic knowledge,” said Xie. “By joining forces with CCC, we’re making it even easier for Chinese scholars to participate in international research publishing and for global publishers to engage directly with the Chinese research community.”
CCC’s Legacy in Copyright and Licensing Innovation
Founded in 1978, Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) has played a pivotal role in simplifying content use and licensing for both rights holders and users. The organization’s voluntary collective licensing solutions—including the Annual Copyright License (ACL) and Multinational Copyright License (MCL)—allow businesses, educational institutions, and organizations to reuse content legally and efficiently.
CCC’s licensing portfolio extends to specialized areas such as ACL for Higher Education, Curriculum & Instruction, and Student Assessments, reflecting its deep engagement across academic and corporate sectors.
Beyond licensing, CCC has emerged as a thought leader on the intersection of AI, copyright, and data-driven content management. Its online hub, AI, Copyright & Licensing, provides insights and resources for publishers, technologists, policymakers, and creators navigating the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and intellectual property.
By integrating solutions like RLSC with global payment systems, CCC continues to advance its mission of connecting people, ideas, and information through responsible innovation.
CEPIEC: Championing Knowledge Exchange Across Borders
As one of China’s premier cultural import-export enterprises, CEPIEC’s operations span academic publishing, content distribution, copyright trading, and international exhibitions. With a mandate to serve education and research communities, CEPIEC has consistently worked to enhance China’s engagement with global academic resources.
The company’s growing suite of digital platforms—including Socolar, which provides free access to millions of open access articles worldwide—demonstrates its ongoing commitment to supporting open science and research transparency.
Its latest initiative, SocoPay, represents a continuation of this mission—creating infrastructure that facilitates cross-border collaboration and payment interoperability in the era of open access.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Open Access
The CCC–CEPIEC collaboration sets a new benchmark for regional inclusivity in global publishing. By aligning localized payment systems with international OA workflows, the partnership removes a long-standing barrier for Chinese authors and enhances publishers’ ability to serve a diverse global research community.
As Open Access continues to reshape the scholarly publishing landscape, initiatives like this one ensure that innovation and inclusivity progress hand in hand. With CEPIEC’s local expertise and CCC’s proven global infrastructure, authors in China—and the publishers who serve them—can now enjoy a smoother, faster, and more accessible path to sharing their discoveries with the world.
