Frequently Asked Questions

An MDOI, meaning Metascholar Digital Object Infrastructure, is an independent persistent identifier and metadata system designed to give digital resources a stable, unique, and verifiable identity. It helps researchers, institutions, publishers, repositories, and organisations register, manage, cite, track, and preserve access to digital objects over time.

A digital object may include a journal article, thesis, dissertation, dataset, book chapter, conference paper, report, policy document, institutional record, learning material, software output, or archived digital resource.

In simple terms, an MDOI works as a permanent identity system for digital resources. Even when the original website link changes, the MDOI record can be updated so users can still find and verify the resource.

Institutions can trust MDOI because it is built around persistent identification, metadata governance, controlled registration, record updating, and long-term resource accessibility. Once an MDOI is created, the destination URL can be updated while the identifier remains the same, which helps prevent broken academic and institutional links.

Both organisations and individuals can register identifiers.

Yes. You can set visibility to Private for supported deposit types.

Developers can connect MDOI to repositories, journal systems, research portals, and institutional platforms through APIs for identifier registration, metadata submission, record updates, resolution, search, and export.

You can update the destination URL at any time. The identifier stays the same.

Subscriptions renew monthly. We send reminder emails before expiry.

MDOI is a not-for-profit Metascholar digital identifier infrastructure operated by Metascholar Limited and integrated within the Scholar Indexing Society ecosystem. It provides standardized digital identification, metadata management, and persistent linking for scholarly and digital assets.

No. MDOI is an independent system and is not affiliated, endorsed, or governed by the DOI Foundation or any of its registration agencies. It operates under its own governance framework, infrastructure, and policies.

MDOI does not replace the DOI system. It is an alternative and independently developed identification framework designed to complement evolving digital and scholarly ecosystems, particularly in areas requiring flexible, accessible, and modern infrastructure.

No. MDOI identifiers are distinct and independently generated under the MDOI system. They follow a different governance, structure, and operational model, and should not be confused with identifiers issued under the DOI system. Interestingly, while both serve similar purposes, MDOI introduces user-level dashboard control, privacy-aware registration, and a more inclusive access model that supports individuals and smaller institutions.

MDOI was developed to address emerging gaps in digital identification, including accessibility, interoperability, and adaptability to modern technologies. It aims to provide a more inclusive and scalable framework for global scholarly and digital communities.

MDOI is governed by Metascholar Limited, with integration support from the Scholar Indexing Society. It operates under defined governance policies, compliance procedures, and ISO-aligned standards to ensure transparency, accountability, and reliability.

Yes. MDOI is designed in alignment with recognized international best practices, including ISO/IEC 27001 principles for information security, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all registered data and systems.

Yes. MDOI identifiers are designed to support citation, referencing, and persistent access to digital content within the MDOI ecosystem and compatible platforms.

Yes. The MDOI name, framework, and associated technologies are protected under applicable trademark, copyright, and intellectual property laws. Unauthorized use or imitation is prohibited.

MDOI maintains clear branding, independent governance, and distinct technical structures. All communications, identifiers, and documentation explicitly state that MDOI is a separate system, ensuring transparency and avoiding any potential confusion with other identifier frameworks.

Both individual users such as researchers and authors, and organisational users like universities, journals, and research institutions can register and manage identifiers.

To get an MDOI, you simply create an account, access your dashboard, deposit an item with its metadata, and the system automatically assigns a unique identifier instantly.

Yes, there is a small monthly maintenance contribution for individual users and organisational users to support system sustainability.

MDOIs can be assigned to a wide range of items including research papers, datasets, theses, software, institutional records, and even learning materials.

Persistent identification means that once an identifier is assigned, it remains stable and usable over time, regardless of changes in the object's location or platform.

Yes, the system allows users to mark items as hidden. These items are fully registered but remain visible only to the owner until they are made public.

Immediately after submission, the system generates a unique MDOI, assigns a verification badge, and links the item to its metadata record.

The verification badge is a trust indicator showing that the item has been successfully registered within the MDOI system and is under active management.

Yes, users can update metadata at any time through their dashboard without affecting the validity of the identifier.

No, the identifier remains unchanged. The system simply updates the associated metadata to reflect the new location.

Metadata provides structured information about the object, enabling discovery, citation, governance, and long-term usability.

When an MDOI is accessed, the system resolves it by directing users to the metadata record and, where applicable, the current location of the object.

The system is governed by the MDOI Foundation, which ensures standards, reliability, and long-term sustainability.

Registration Agencies are accredited organisations that assign MDOIs and support users within specific scholarly or institutional communities.

Yes, organisational users are provided with an institutional dashboard that supports multi-record management and governance.

Yes, and this is one of its strengths. Researchers can register items privately and make them public when ready.

The system operates on a lean cost-recovery model supported by user contributions, ensuring continuous operation and infrastructure maintenance.

MDOI addresses a critical gap in digital scholarship by ensuring reliable identification, traceability, and accessibility of knowledge assets across time and systems.