Paper mills research

COPE and STM undertook a study with Maverick Publishing Services in June 2022, using data from publishers, to understand the scale of the problem of paper mills. The study also involved interviewing stakeholders - research investigators, publishers, and Retraction Watch. 

All stakeholders believe that the issue of paper mills is a real threat to the integrity of the scholarly record. Collective effort is needed because publishers are clear that they cannot solve this problem alone. A joint effort by publishers, funders and research institutions is needed.

Key points

• Paper mills are the process by which manufactured manuscripts are submitted to a journal for a fee on behalf of researchers with the purpose of providing an easy publication for them, or to offer authorship for sale
• There is a pressure to publish for researchers and for some it is necessary to advance their career, and in some countries use of such services are perceived to be less unacceptable.
• Fake papers are being identified both during the submission process and after publication.
• There are indicators, usually a combination of factors, editorial staff can look out for during the submission process.
• Tools and processes are increasingly being used to identify paper mills.
• After publication concerns are raised by readers and following investigation, which can take some time, papers will be retracted.
• Research integrity teams are retracting multiple published fake articles.
• The submission of suspected fake research papers, which is often associated with fake authorship, is growing.

Recommended actions

• A major education exercise is needed to ensure that Editors are aware of the problem of paper mills, and Editors/editorial staff are trained in identifying the fake papers.
• Continued investment in tools and systems to pick up suspect papers as they are submitted.
• Engagement with institutions and funders to review incentives for researchers to publish valid papers and not use services that will give quick but fake publication.
• Investigation of protocols that can be put in place to impede paper mills from succeeding in their goals.
• Review the retraction process to take account of the unique features of paper mill papers.
• Investigate how to ensure retraction notices are applied to all copies of a paper such as preprint servers and article repositories.

Related resources

• Paper mills COPE Position Statement 2024
• Publication misconduct and fraud day: Keynote Publication Integrity Week video 2023
• Addressing concerns about the systematic manipulation of the publication process COPE guidance 2023
• Systematic manipulation of the publication process COPE guidance 2021
• STM integrity hub STM platform to identify suspect papers
• Retraction guidelines COPE guidelines