Retraction, Withdrawal, Correction, Removal, and Replacement Policies
Retraction, Withdrawal, Correction, Removal, and Replacement Policies
Trends in Intellectual Property Research is committed to maintaining the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of the scholarly record. While the journal values the significant effort invested by authors and the rigor of the peer review process, there may be exceptional situations requiring post-submission or post-publication action, including correction, retraction, withdrawal, removal, or replacement of articles.
All such actions are guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and are undertaken with transparency, fairness, and editorial independence. These measures are intended to preserve the integrity of academic literature rather than penalize authors.
Retraction of Articles
Retraction is applied when a published article (Version of Record) is found to be unreliable due to serious issues affecting its validity.
Grounds for retraction may include:
- Significant errors (whether inadvertent or due to misconduct) that undermine the findings or conclusions
- Duplicate or redundant publication without proper disclosure
- Ethical breaches such as plagiarism, authorship manipulation, compromised peer review, or undisclosed conflicts of interest
- Any other issues that materially affect the credibility of the work
Procedure:
- A concern is raised by a stakeholder (e.g., reader, reviewer, author, or institution).
- The Editor-in-Chief initiates an investigation in line with COPE guidance and seeks clarification from the authors.
- Consultation with the Editorial Board or advisors may occur where necessary.
- A final determination is made and communicated to relevant parties.
- A formal retraction notice is published, clearly stating the reasons and linked to the original article.
- The original article remains accessible but is clearly marked as retracted to preserve the scholarly record.
Withdrawal of Articles (Pre-Publication)
Withdrawal applies to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published (e.g., under review, accepted manuscripts, or in production).
Authors may request withdrawal before final publication by submitting a written explanation to the Editor.
Withdrawal is typically permitted in cases of:
- Discovery of substantial errors
- Duplicate submission
- Breach of journal policies
- Editorial or production issues
Once a manuscript has entered peer review, withdrawal requests will generally not be considered until a final editorial decision is made. This policy ensures respect for the time and effort of reviewers and editors. Where appropriate, a withdrawal notice may be issued, and bibliographic details retained for transparency.
Corrections and Updates
Corrections are issued when errors are identified that do not invalidate the overall conclusions of the article.
Types of corrections include:
- Erratum (Publisher Correction): For errors introduced during production or publication
- Corrigendum (Author Correction): For mistakes made by the authors
- Addendum: For supplementary information that enhances or clarifies the original work
Corrections are reviewed by the editorial team and, where necessary, external experts. Approved corrections are published and linked to the original article. Minor typographical errors that do not affect interpretation are generally not amended post-publication.
Removal of Articles
Complete removal of an article is an exceptional measure reserved for situations involving legal or ethical necessity. In such cases, the full text is removed, but bibliographic information (e.g., title, authors, DOI) remains available, accompanied by a notice explaining the reason for removal.
Possible grounds include:
- Defamation or unlawful content
- Infringement of legal rights (e.g., copyright violations)
- Compliance with court orders
- Content posing significant public harm if acted upon
Replacement of Articles
In rare circumstances, an article may be retracted and replaced with a revised version where the original content poses potential harm but the underlying research remains valid.
Process:
- The original article is formally retracted
- A corrected version is published and clearly identified as a replacement
- The retraction notice links to the updated version
- A transparent record of changes is maintained
Handling of Misconduct and Post-Publication Issues
All allegations of misconduct are addressed in accordance with COPE standards, ensuring a fair, confidential, and evidence-based process. Confirmed violations may result in retraction, correction, institutional notification, or restrictions on future submissions.
Contact and Policy Updates
Concerns regarding published content should be directed to the Editor-in-Chief through the journal’s official communication channels. All cases are handled with due confidentiality and procedural fairness.
These policies are reviewed periodically to reflect evolving best practices in academic publishing and uphold the highest standards of research integrity.
