Publishing Ethics and Editorial Responsibilities

At AG Editor, the integrity of academic and editorial content, as well as the transparency of the publication process, is fundamental. Therefore, we adhere to the standards and guidelines proposed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) (See: https://publicationethics.org/).
This document describes the principles of good practice applied to our book publishing process.

 Academic and Editorial Integrity

At AG Editor, we maintain high standards of academic and editorial integrity. We expect all book publications to adhere to the following principles:

  • Honesty: in all aspects of content creation and editing.
  • Meticulous Care: accuracy, excellence, and quality in all stages of publication.
  • Transparency: open and clear communication among authors, editors, and reviewers.
  • Respect: care for contributors, readers, and intellectual property.
  • Accountability: taking responsibility for one’s own work and for maintaining the integrity of the publication.

 Procedure for Reporting Concerns

If anyone believes that a book or chapter published by AG Editor has not been managed in accordance with these principles, they should communicate their concerns to the editorial office at editorial@ageditor.org.
Concerns will be addressed following the guidelines established by COPE (See: https://publicationethics.org/guidance).

Editorial Process

Editorial Independence

At AG Editor, we ensure editorial independence and avoid any external influence or competing interest that could compromise decision-making.

Diversity and Inclusion

We do not discriminate on the basis of personal characteristics or identity. We promote diversity and inclusion at every stage of the editorial process.

Evaluation Procedure

Editorial and expert review are fundamental to maintaining the standards of our publications.
The editor should ensure that the review process is conducted with fairness, impartiality, and timeliness. Books or book chapters must be evaluated by at least two external reviewers with appropriate expertise in the relevant field, and if their opinions differ significantly, an additional reviewer should be invited. All reviewers must be independent and free from conflicts of interest.
Confidentiality and ethical conduct are maintained throughout the evaluation process.

Authorship and Contributions

Principles of Authorship

We recognize that different disciplines have varying rules about authorship. Where no specific guidelines exist, we recommend applying the following principles:

  1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, or development of the work, or to the analysis, translation, or editing of content.
  2. Drafting or critical review of the manuscript’s intellectual content.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Acceptance of responsibility for the integrity and accuracy of the published work.

Corresponding Author Responsibilities

The corresponding author or editor is responsible for proofreading the manuscript, managing revisions, and responding to editorial queries before and after publication.

Affiliations

Affiliations should represent the institutions that supported, approved, or were involved in the creation of the book or chapter.

 Plagiarism

Definition and Policies against Plagiarism

At AG Editor, we do not tolerate plagiarism. Plagiarism is defined as the use of ideas, text, data, or any material produced by others without proper acknowledgment.
Submissions containing suspected plagiarism will be rejected during the initial editorial review. If plagiarism is discovered after publication, corrective actions will be taken according to COPE’s Retraction Guidelines (See: https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.4).

 Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Duplicate or redundant publication (self-plagiarism) occurs when a book or substantial parts of a chapter are published more than once without appropriate referencing or justification.
We do not support overlapping or duplicate content without clear academic rationale.

Human or Animal Research (If Applicable)

When a book or chapter includes original research involving human or animal participants, authors must ensure compliance with international ethical and legal standards and obtain proper approval and consent.
Authors should align with the Declaration of Helsinki (See: https://www.wma.net/policies-post/wma-declaration-of-helsinki/).

Conflicts of Interest and Financing

We seek to ensure that our publications are free from undue influence.
Authors, editors, and reviewers must declare any potential conflict of interest that could compromise the objectivity or integrity of a book or chapter.
If there are no conflicts, the authors should state: “Conflicts of interest: none.”
If conflicts exist, authors must disclose them following the ICMJE model (See: https://www.icmje.org/downloads/coi_disclosure.docx).

Retractions, Corrections, and Expressions of Concern

Editors will consider retractions, corrections, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines.
If an error is identified, an erratum or corrigendum will be issued. Retractions apply only in cases of serious error, misconduct, or plagiarism.

Image Manipulation, Counterfeiting, and Fabrication

Authors must avoid altering images or graphics in ways that distort results or misrepresent information.
Minor adjustments (e.g., improving resolution or color balance) are acceptable if they do not change the original meaning of the image. Cases of manipulation will be handled according to COPE policies.

Research Fraud and Inappropriate Conduct

If fraudulent or unethical behavior is suspected, AG Editor will work with relevant institutions to investigate.
Any publication found to contain falsified or fabricated information will be retracted following COPE guidelines.

Versions and Adaptations

Our books and chapters are distributed globally, often in different academic, cultural, and linguistic contexts.
Revised editions or translated versions may be published when necessary, provided they maintain quality and accuracy.

Transparency

We follow the COPE Principles of Transparency and Best Practices in Scholarly Publishing (See: https://doi.org/10.24318/cope.2019.1.12) and encourage authors and editors to uphold the same standards.

Data and Supporting Evidence

Authors are encouraged to maintain accurate records of data, citations, and supplementary materials used in their book or chapter, ensuring transparency and traceability.

Marketing and Communication

All promotional materials, including social media and digital communications, must maintain the integrity of academic content.
Marketing strategies must never influence editorial decisions or compromise the objectivity of publications.

Procedure for the Identification and Handling of Misconduct

Editors and the publisher will take reasonable steps to identify and prevent the publication of content involving plagiarism, citation manipulation, falsification, or fabrication.
Any allegations of misconduct related to published material will be handled following COPE procedures.

Editorial Responsibilities

At AG Editor, the integrity and quality of our academic publications are paramount. Our ethics policy establishes the principles that ensure fair, transparent, and ethical editorial practices.

Editor Duties

  • Editors of AG Editor books and collections are responsible for deciding which manuscripts are accepted for publication based on quality, originality, and relevance.
  • The editor should ensure that the review process is conducted with fairness, impartiality, and timeliness. Books or book chapters must be reviewed by at least two external experts. If their opinions differ significantly, an additional reviewer should be invited. All reviewers must be independent and free from conflicts of interest.
  • The editor must evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, regardless of authors’ personal characteristics or background.
  • All submitted materials and communications must remain confidential unless explicit consent is provided.
  • Editors must not use AI-assisted tools to make editorial decisions, as human judgment is essential for evaluation.
  • Editors must declare and avoid conflicts of interest in relation to any work in which they have personal or professional involvement.

Reviewers Duties

  • The review process should aim to improve quality and academic rigor.
  • Reviewers must treat authors with professionalism and respect, keeping all materials confidential.
  • Reviewers must report any suspected ethical issues, plagiarism, or data irregularities to the editor.
  • Reviews must be objective and free of personal bias, and reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.

Authors Duties

  • Authors must ensure that all information is accurate and original.
  • All sources and materials must be properly cited.
  • The same work or its substantial parts must not be submitted to other publishers simultaneously.
  • The main author is responsible for coordinating communication and ensuring all co-authors approve the final version.
  • AI-assisted tools may be used only to improve readability or language, under human supervision, and must be disclosed in the acknowledgments.
  • Image modifications are allowed only if they do not alter meaning or remove original information.
  • All authors must disclose any conflicts of interest or financial support.
  • If an error is found after publication, the author must notify the editor promptly to issue the necessary correction.

Open Access Policy

All AG Editor books are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license, allowing free and unrestricted access, sharing, and reuse of content, provided proper credit is given to the authors and publisher.