Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics

 

Our publication ethics guidelines align with the COPE Principles of Transparency, Best Practice Guidelines, and the COPE Code of Conduct. Further information is available at https://publicationethics.org.

We promote and uphold the highest standards of publication ethics, taking robust measures to prevent publication malpractices. As a responsible publisher, the Editorial Board of this Journal is deeply committed to overseeing all stages of publishing. We acknowledge our ethical duties and responsibilities.

 

Duties and Responsibilities of Editors and Publisher:

 The International Journal of Law in Changing World – IJLCW is an institution-independent journal. The Journal is the publisher, and the editors produce the entire Journal. Editors undertake a range of responsibilities to enhance the Journal's quality and integrity, address author and reader needs, encourage academic discourse, and more. In line with best practices, editors commit to the following responsibilities:

  1.   Editorial Board: The editorial board comprises recognized experts in the field, with full names, affiliations, and updated contact information provided on the Journal's webpage.
  2.   Publication Decisions: Editors are responsible for determining which submitted articles should be published, guided by the work's validation, significance to researchers and readers, and adherence to the Journal's policies and legal requirements.
  3.   Peer Review Process: All journal content undergoes a double-blind peer review. Articles deemed suitable for review are evaluated by experts in the respective field. Referees' comments guide publication decisions.
  4.   Fair Play: Manuscripts are evaluated based on intellectual content, free from biases related to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, or political beliefs. A paper is accepted or rejected based on its importance, originality, clarity, and relevance to the Journal's aim.
  5.   Digital Archiving: Editors ensure the digital preservation of journal content on the website, enabling continued access for all. If, by any chance, the Journal is discontinued, it will remain accessible at HeinOnline (HeinOnline.org).
  6.   Confidentiality: Editors and editorial staff maintain strict confidentiality concerning submitted manuscripts, disclosing information only to authorized individuals.
  7.   Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Editors ethically handle unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts, refraining from using such information for personal gain. Conflicts of interest are conducted transparently and appropriately.
  8.   Procedures for Dealing with Unethical Behavior: Editors promptly and diligently address unethical behavior, following prescribed measures based on the severity of the misconduct.

Editors are accountable for the quality of their Journal’s content. They are responsible for identifying critical relevant topics, sourcing quality manuscripts, and organizing the flow of manuscripts. The IJLCW editors are also accountable for checking AI-generated content and plagiarism during desk review.

Duties and Responsibilities of Authors:

 Authors are expected to adhere to high standards of ethical conduct throughout the publication process, including:

  1.   Publication and Submission Fee: No manuscript processing, submission, or publication fees exist.
  2.   Open Access Policy: The Journal embraces an open-access policy, allowing users to access, redistribute, and build upon the material with proper credit.
  3.   Reporting Standards: Authors present accurate work accounts and objectively discuss their significance. Accurate data and appropriate references are essential.
  4.   Data Access and Retention: Authors may need raw data for editorial review and should be prepared to grant public access to such data. Data retention for a reasonable period post-publication is expected.
  5.   Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must ensure their work is original and properly cited. Plagiarism in any form is considered unethical and unacceptable. We advise authors to check their work plagiarism rate before submitting to tools such as Grammarly (https://www.grammarly.com/plagiarism-checker).
  6.   Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publications: Authors should not publish essentially the same research in more than one Journal concurrently. Proper citation of the primary reference is necessary for secondary publications.
  7.   Acknowledgment of Sources: Acknowledgment of others' work is crucial. Authors must cite relevant publications that have influenced their work.
  8.   Authorship of the Paper: Authorship should be limited to those who significantly contributed to the study. All appropriate co-authors should approve the final version and agree to its submission for publication.
  9.   Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any financial or substantive conflicts that could influence the manuscript's results or interpretation.
  10. Fundamental Errors in Published Works: Authors must promptly notify the editor of significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, cooperating to retract or correct the paper.
  11. Paper sharing: Authors can share their research on all available networks and repositories (e.g., researchgate.net).

Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers:

Reviewers play a vital role in maintaining the Journal's integrity by providing valuable assessments of submitted manuscripts. Critical responsibilities of reviewers include:

  1.   Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Peer review supports editorial decisions, aiding authors in improving their papers.
  2.   Promptness: Reviewers must promptly inform the editor if they cannot review a manuscript within the stipulated timeframe.
  3.   Confidentiality: Reviewers must maintain confidentiality regarding manuscripts and not share them without authorization.
  4.   Standards of Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted objectively, avoiding personal criticism and presenting clear views supported by arguments.
  5.   Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant unpublished work and inform the editor of any substantial similarities between the manuscript and other published papers.
  6.   Disclosure and Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must keep privileged information confidential and refrain from using it for personal gain. Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and managed appropriately.

 

Retractions, Corrections and Publishing Malpractices

 Authors should keep in mind the following guidelines:

 

  1. The manuscript should not be submitted to another journal simultaneously. The submitted work must be original and not previously published, in part or whole, unless it builds upon prior work.
  2. Authors should be ready to provide relevant documentation or data upon request to validate the results' accuracy. This might include raw data, samples, records, etc. However, any confidential or proprietary information should be excluded.
  3. Authors must adhere to all guidelines and respect third-party rights, such as copyright and moral rights.
  4. In case of suspected misconduct or fraud, the Coeditors-in-Chief will investigate following COPE guidelines. If the investigation raises valid concerns, the editor-in-chief will contact the author(s) via their provided email address to address the issue. Depending on the situation, the Journal may implement the following measures, amongst others:

   - The manuscript may be rejected and returned to the author if it is still under consideration.

   - If the article has already been published online, the following actions may be taken, depending on the nature and severity of the infraction:

  1. A correction may be added to the article.
  2. An editorial expression of concern may be included in the article.
  3. In severe cases, the article may be retracted.

   The reason for the action taken will be provided in the published erratum/correction, editorial expression of concern, or retraction note.

The author's institution may be informed, and a notice of suspected transgression of ethical standards in the peer review system may be included in the author's and article's bibliographic records.

Errors

Authors are responsible for rectifying any significant errors or inaccuracies in their published article. Upon discovering such errors, the author(s) should promptly contact the Journal and explain how the error impacts the article. Depending on the nature of the error, the Journal will decide on the appropriate course of action, which may involve issuing a correction or retracting the article.

Complaints and Appeals:

 All complaints from authors and third parties must be addressed to the editors at editor@ijlcw.org. Authors can appeal from an editorial decision through the submission system or email. 

We remain committed to upholding these ethical standards, ensuring the integrity and credibility of our publication process.