Publishing Ethics

The Innovative Computing and Communication: An International Journal (ICC Journal) upholds the highest standards of publication ethics and adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) core practices. We are committed to addressing cases of research and publication misconduct in line with these guidelines.

Ethical Guidelines for Authors

  • Originality and Dual Publication
    • ICC Journal strictly prohibits dual publication (publishing the same material twice in peer-reviewed literature) and dual submission (simultaneous submission of the same material to multiple journals).
    • Authors must ensure that their work is original and refrain from duplicating datasets or findings.
  • Plagiarism and Misconduct
    • ICC Journal does not tolerate plagiarism, falsification of data, figure manipulation, inaccurate author attributions, or undeclared conflicts of interest.
    • Authors are encouraged to consult COPE resources if they are unsure about ethical practices.
  • Conflict of Interest
    • Authors must disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence their research. Examples include funding, affiliations, or personal relationships.
    • Conflicts of interest should be declared in the "Comments for the Editor" field during submission.
    • If no conflicts exist, authors must state: “The authors declare no conflicts of interest.”

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Editors

Editors must adhere to the COPE Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines and follow these principles:

  • Ensure that peer review is fair, unbiased, and conducted in a timely manner.
  • Base decisions to accept or reject a paper on its importance, originality, clarity, and relevance to the journal’s scope.
  • Protect the confidentiality of the peer-review process and not share manuscript details outside the process.
  • Require reviewers to disclose any potential competing interests before reviewing.
  • Maintain independence from external influences, such as the journal owner or third parties, in making editorial decisions.

Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to comply with the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers and adhere to the following:

  • Accept reviews only within their area of expertise and ensure timely completion.
  • Respect the confidentiality of the peer-review process and refrain from sharing manuscript details.
  • Avoid using privileged information from the review process for personal gain or to disadvantage others.
  • Declare all potential conflicts of interest.
  • Ensure reviews are objective, constructive, and free from hostility or bias based on the author's characteristics or manuscript origin.
  • Provide accurate professional information and avoid impersonation during the review process.

Allegations of Misconduct

If you suspect ethical misconduct, please report it to the Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Bal Virdee at editorinchief.icc@ui-journals.com. Allegations will be thoroughly investigated following COPE procedures.