News & Opinion
Opinion / Editor apologizes for plagiarized paper
5/9/2011 9.08am by
Retraction Watch reports an editorial comment in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology about a plagiarized article which the journal has retracted. The editor explains how his journal uses CrossCheck and why peer review can't be expected to detect plagiarism. This comment, in turn, has attracted comments from Retraction Watch readers which may also be of interest to editors. See here.
Opinion / iThenticate paper on self-plagiarism
31/8/2011 9.06am by
iThenticate (an organization that produces text-matching software) has produced a paper on the ethics of self-plagiarism. It can be found here.
News / COPE Forum agenda for 6 September 2011 meeting
30/8/2011 4.49pm
Download the agenda and materials for the COPE Forum meeting 6 September 2011 here (PDF, 179kb).
Opinion / Data sharing developments
19/8/2011 10.01am by
A report from the Publishing Open Data Working Group discusses various proposals and provides useful links on the question of data sharing. The report can be found here. COPE has submitted evidence to a Royal Society policy inquiry and will be represented at a meeting to discuss this in September.
Opinion / Problems with retractions
18/8/2011 11.06am by
A report in Nature concludes that several flawed papers have not been retracted (and mentions the COPE guidelines).
News / COPE is now on LinkedIn!
15/8/2011 10.19am
If you are a member of LinkedIn you can join the COPE group. Click here to stay up to date with ethical issues.
Opinion / Scientific Red Cards
15/8/2011 9.40am by
A group of scientists are proposing an online database of research and publication misconduct to be known as Scientific Red Cards. They are calling on researchers to join the initiative. The website can be found here.
News / Call for Cases for COPE Forum, 6 September
11/8/2011 12.27pm
We are now accepting cases for the next COPE Forum, 3.00 - 5.00pm on Tuesday 6 September 2011. The meeting will take place at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), 5-11 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8SH . Cases can be submitted here. Closing date for submissions is Tuesday 23 August.
Opinion / Concerns about ethical review of research
11/8/2011 7.51am by
An article in Nature discusses problems with commercial review boards which may get greater powers in the United States.
Opinion / Indian university responds swiftly to editors' concerns
8/8/2011 9.19am by
According to Retraction Watch, Kalasalingam University in Tamil Nadu, India, has sacked a professor and revoked the registration of six graduate students in response to evidence from journal editors of data manipulation. The press release from the university notes that the university launched an inquiry after receiving letters and emails from the editors of Vascular Pharmacology, Life Sciences, and Experimental Eye Research.