Code of Ethics of Scientific Publications

The future of science in general, and of scientific publishing in particular, depends not only on compliance with laws and regulations, but also on adherence to ethical principles and respectful relationships among all participants in the scientific publishing process. These principles form the foundation for increasing the quality of scientific publications and for fostering effective cooperation among authors, editors, publishers, reviewers, and readers.

The collective experience of ethical conduct in scientific publishing is consolidated in this document—the Code of Ethics of Scientific Publications (hereinafter referred to as the Code), developed by the Committee on the Ethics of Scientific Publications.

This Code defines and unifies the general principles and rules governing the professional conduct of all participants involved in scientific publishing, including authors, reviewers, editors, publishers, distributors, and readers.

Key Terms
Ethics of scientific publications A system of professional conduct rules governing relationships among authors, reviewers, editors, publishers, and readers in the creation, dissemination, and use of scientific publications.
Editor A representative of a scientific journal or publishing house responsible for preparing materials for publication and maintaining communication with authors and readers.
Author An individual or a group of individuals who contribute to the creation of a scientific publication presenting research results.
Reviewer An expert acting on behalf of a scientific journal or publisher who conducts an independent scientific assessment of submitted materials to determine their suitability for publication.
Publisher A legal entity or individual responsible for the public dissemination of scientific publications.
Reader Any individual who accesses and reviews published scientific material.
Plagiarism The intentional appropriation of authorship of another person’s work, ideas, or inventions. Plagiarism constitutes a violation of copyright and, in some cases, patent law, and may result in legal liability.

Principles of Professional Ethics for Editors and Publishers
Editors bear responsibility for the publication of copyrighted works and are therefore required to adhere to the following principles:

• Editorial decisions regarding publication are based solely on the scientific merit, originality, relevance, and clarity of the submitted work.
• Unpublished materials and data obtained through submitted manuscripts must not be used for personal purposes or disclosed to third parties without the written consent of the author.
• Information or ideas acquired during the editorial process must be treated as confidential and not used for personal gain.
• Editors must not permit the publication of manuscripts if there is sufficient evidence of plagiarism.
• In cooperation with the publisher, editors must address complaints related to submitted or published materials and take appropriate measures to resolve conflicts and restore violated rights.

Ethical Principles in the Activities of Reviewers
Reviewers perform expert scientific evaluations and are required to act impartially, guided by the following principles:

• Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents and must not be shared or discussed with unauthorized third parties.
• Reviews must provide an objective, reasoned, and constructive assessment of the manuscript’s scientific quality. Personal criticism of the author is unacceptable.
• Unpublished data obtained during the review process must not be used for personal purposes.
• Reviewers who consider themselves insufficiently qualified to evaluate a manuscript, or who are unable to remain objective due to a conflict of interest, must promptly notify the editor and request exclusion from the review process.

Ethical Principles Governing Authors
Authors bear primary responsibility for the novelty, reliability, and integrity of their research results and are expected to adhere to the following principles:

• Research results presented in a manuscript must be accurate and reliable. Fabrication, falsification, or deliberate misrepresentation of data is unacceptable.
• Submitted manuscripts must be entirely original. Any borrowed ideas, text, or data must be properly cited. Plagiarism in any form—including unattributed quotations, paraphrasing, or appropriation of others’ research results—is unethical and unacceptable.
• Authors must acknowledge the contributions of all individuals who significantly influenced the research and cite relevant prior work.
• Manuscripts submitted to the journal must not be under consideration by another journal and must not have been previously published.
• All individuals who have made a significant contribution to the research must be listed as co-authors. Inclusion of individuals who did not participate in the research is unacceptable.
• If significant errors or inaccuracies are discovered during the review process or after publication, authors must promptly notify the editor and cooperate in correcting or retracting the article if necessary.

The Code of Ethics of Scientific Publications was developed and approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Scientific Publications.