Pierre Online Publications is committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability throughout the publishing process. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities and expected conduct of all parties involved in the publication process—editors, reviewers, authors, and the publisher. Our policies are guided by the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

1. Responsibilities of editors

1.1 Decision-making
Editors are responsible for deciding which submitted articles to publish, based on the manuscript’s quality, originality, significance, and alignment with the journal’s aims. Legal requirements regarding libel, copyright, and plagiarism are also taken into account.

1.2 Fair and unbiased evaluation
Editors evaluate manuscripts based solely on scholarly merit, without regard to authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, or political beliefs.

1.3 Confidentiality
All editorial staff must treat submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Manuscripts must not be disclosed to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, or the publisher as appropriate.

1.4 Conflicts of interest
Editors must not use unpublished materials from submitted manuscripts for personal research. They must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.

1.5 Vigilance against misconduct
Editors are responsible for identifying and acting on suspected research or publication misconduct. They will follow COPE guidelines to investigate concerns, with support from the publisher when needed.

2. Responsibilities of reviewers

2.1 Contribution to editorial decisions
Reviewers support editors by providing objective, constructive assessments of submitted work to assist decision-making and improve the manuscript.

2.2 Confidentiality
Manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential and not shared or discussed with others, unless authorized by the editor.

2.3 Objectivity and professionalism
Reviewers must evaluate work fairly, using evidence-based reasoning, and avoid personal criticism.

2.4 Timeliness
Reviewers should accept review invitations only if they can provide timely feedback. If unable to complete the review, they should inform the editor promptly.

2.5 Identification of sources and plagiarism
Reviewers must report relevant work not cited by the authors and notify the editor of any significant overlap with other publications.

2.6 Conflicts of interest
Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest and avoid reviewing manuscripts where such conflicts exist.

3. Responsibilities of authors

3.1 Research integrity and reporting
Authors must present accurate, original research. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable.

3.2 Data access and transparency
Authors may be requested to provide raw data for editorial review. Where possible, they should make data publicly available or provide access upon request.

3.3 Originality and plagiarism
Manuscripts must be the authors’ original work and properly cite all sources. All forms of plagiarism are unethical and unacceptable.

3.4 Multiple, duplicate, or concurrent submission
Authors should not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time or republish previously published content.

3.5 Authorship criteria
Only individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research should be listed as authors. All listed authors must approve the final version and agree to its submission.

3.6 Acknowledgment of sources
Authors must give proper credit to others’ work and cite all publications that have influenced their study.

3.7 Disclosure of conflicts of interest
Authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships that could influence their work, including funding sources.

3.8 Corrections and retractions
If authors discover an error or inaccuracy in their published article, they must promptly notify the journal editor and cooperate in issuing a correction or retraction.

3.9 Use of generative AI tools
If generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) are used in writing or editing, authors must disclose their use, including the extent and purpose. AI tools cannot be listed as authors.

4. Responsibilities of the publisher

4.1 Ethical oversight and misconduct handling
Pierre Online Publications takes ethical issues seriously. In cases of alleged or proven misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification), we will work with journal editors to investigate and resolve concerns, following COPE’s Core Practices. Outcomes may include issuing corrections, clarifications, retractions, or expressions of concern.

4.2 Long-term archiving and access
We are committed to preserving all published content permanently. Articles remain freely accessible through our digital platforms and partner archives to ensure long-term availability.

4.3 Editorial independence
The publisher respects the editorial independence of its journals and does not interfere in editorial decision-making.

5. Complaints and appeals

5.1 Appeals against editorial decisions
Authors who believe that an editorial decision was unjust may submit a formal appeal. Appeals must be based on academic reasons and will be reviewed by the journal’s editor-in-chief or an independent member of the editorial board.

5.2 Complaints about ethical breaches
Anyone may raise concerns about suspected misconduct related to a manuscript or published article. Complaints should be submitted in writing and will be handled confidentially and in accordance with COPE guidelines.

6. Post-publication discussions and updates

Pierre Online Publications welcomes post-publication dialogue. Readers or authors may contact the editorial office to initiate discussions, propose corrections, or submit clarifications. We are committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record and will issue errata, corrigenda, or retractions as appropriate.