Manuscript Withdrawal and Article Retraction Policy

 

JURMAKOMBIS is committed to maintaining the integrity of the publication process and respecting the time and resources invested by authors, editors, reviewers, and journal administrators. This policy governs the withdrawal of manuscripts before publication and the retraction of articles that have already been published.

General Principles

Once a manuscript has been submitted to JURMAKOMBIS, authors are responsible for ensuring that the same manuscript is not submitted simultaneously to another journal. Authors are also expected not to withdraw a manuscript unilaterally without a justifiable reason after the editorial and peer-review processes have begun.

These provisions are intended to prevent duplicate submissions and publications, avoid unnecessary expenditure of editors’ and reviewers’ time, and preserve the integrity of the editorial process.

Author Requests for Withdrawal

Requests to withdraw a manuscript must be submitted formally to the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor. The request must identify the manuscript, explain the reasons for withdrawal, and include confirmation that all authors agree to the request.

  • Withdrawal requests submitted before the review process begins may be considered by the editor based on the reasons provided.
  • Withdrawal of a manuscript undergoing peer review may be permitted after the editor has assessed the reasons for withdrawal.
  • Withdrawal after a manuscript has been marked accepted requires special consideration because the journal has already invested editorial and reviewer resources.
  • Authors must not withdraw a manuscript for the purpose of submitting or publishing the same work in another journal while the editorial process at JURMAKOMBIS is still ongoing.

Withdrawal Fees or Sanctions

JURMAKOMBIS may impose a withdrawal processing fee when a manuscript is withdrawn without a justifiable reason after the editorial or peer-review process has begun. If such a fee is imposed, its amount and applicable conditions must be communicated transparently to authors through the Author Guidelines or the journal’s applicable fee policy.

To ensure transparency and fairness, withdrawal fees must not be used as punishment against authors who have justifiable academic, ethical, legal, or extraordinary circumstances. Decisions regarding fees or fee waivers are made by the journal management in accordance with the applicable policy.

Grounds for Withdrawal

Withdrawal requests may be considered when supported by relevant and justifiable reasons, including:

  • Substantial errors in the manuscript that make its findings or conclusions unreliable.
  • Research ethics issues discovered after submission.
  • Authorship disputes or the inability to obtain the agreement of all authors that cannot be resolved.
  • Copyright infringement or legal issues requiring the publication process to be halted.
  • Other extraordinary circumstances that can be substantiated and are considered relevant by the editor.

Unethical Withdrawal

A withdrawal may be considered unethical when it is made without adequate justification, particularly when the manuscript has undergone review and the authors subsequently submit or publish the same work in another journal. Such conduct may constitute a breach of publication integrity.

If suspected misconduct is identified, the editor will request clarification from the authors. Authors will be given an opportunity to explain the circumstances before an editorial decision or further action is taken.

Withdrawal or Retraction of Published Articles

A published article will not be retracted solely at the unilateral request of an author. Retraction is an editorial action that may be taken when serious concerns affect the integrity or reliability of the article.

Retraction may be considered when sufficient evidence indicates:

  • Data fabrication or falsification.
  • Substantial errors or calculation mistakes that render the findings or conclusions unreliable.
  • Significant plagiarism or copyright infringement.
  • Duplicate publication or redundant publication.
  • Research that is found to have violated research ethics principles.
  • Manipulation of the review process or other forms of publication-integrity misconduct.

Retraction Procedure

  • The editor receives or identifies information concerning suspected misconduct.
  • The editor conducts a preliminary assessment and requests clarification from the authors where necessary.
  • If further investigation is required, the editor may coordinate with the relevant institution or competent authority.
  • Based on the available evidence and the findings of the assessment, the editor determines the appropriate action, which may include a correction, an expression of concern, or retraction.
  • Retractions are announced transparently and linked to the retracted article so that the publication record remains traceable.

Authors’ Rights During the Withdrawal Process

Authors have the right to be informed of the reasons for a withdrawal decision or editorial action affecting their manuscript or published article. Authors may provide clarification or supporting evidence in accordance with the procedures established by the journal.

Closing Provisions

This Manuscript Withdrawal and Article Retraction Policy forms part of the JURMAKOMBIS publication ethics policies. It may be reviewed and updated periodically to maintain consistency with scholarly publication integrity standards and developments in the journal’s policies.