JOURNAL ADDRESSES CONCERNS OVER AUTHOR APPROVAL FOR PUBLISHED PAPER

2024-01-12

A recent issue has surfaced regarding the publication of an article approximately one year after its release, as one of the authors claimed not to have seen the reviews, revisions, or given approval for the final manuscript. This revelation was later corroborated by other authors, citing a breakdown in communication with the complainant. Notably, the corresponding author, at the time of submission, served as the editor-in-chief of the journal.

Upon investigation, the journal discovered that the corresponding author, in adherence to the journal's policy, had signed an exclusive license form, affirming that all co-authors had granted authorization for publication. To address this issue, the journal has implemented several measures:

  1. Policy Change: The journal has revised its policy, requiring all authors to sign an authorship declaration form, confirming their adherence to authorship criteria.

  2. Review Access: The complainant has been offered access to the reviewers' comments, providing an opportunity to publish an addendum or comment if additional points need clarification.

  3. Public Apology: An apology, acknowledging the oversight and knowingly proceeding with publication without the complainant's approval, will be published by the authors.

The matter has also been brought to the attention of the employing institution of the co-authors, and the journal is awaiting information on any outcomes from their investigation.

COPE provided advice, acknowledging that the paper had undergone a blind review, eliminating concerns of misconduct by the editor-in-chief. Recommendations included ensuring all authors' email addresses are recorded, copying all authors in correspondence, and having all authors sign the copyright form. Since the institution is already aware of the situation, contacting them again may be unnecessary. The Forum agreed that publishing the apology serves as a sufficient acknowledgment of the issue and a reproach for the editor-in-chief's actions.

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