- Case
Author dispute over need for retraction
The authors of a paper are in disagreement over whether the paper should be retracted. One group of authors (group 1) wishes to publish a correction, and another group (group 2) feel that is inadequate, and the paper should be retracted. Group 2 is concerned that one of the authors, author X, in group 1 is guilty of scientific misconduct. The remaining group 1 authors do not support this… - Case
Appropriate scope of review for retractions
An institutional review recommended retraction of certain works by a highly prolific and influential author who has since died. The institutional review focused on a relatively small portion of this author’s work. The institution recommended retraction based on deeming the articles unsafe and identifying several concerns, including that the articles' conclusions were implausible. As… - Case
Wrong article abstract published: corrigendum or retraction and republication?
…abstract. The author is asking for a retraction and republication. Question for COPE Council Should the journal issue a corrigendum or retraction and republication? … - Case
Should this paper be retracted?
Journal Y received an original article for review, which was subsequently published online. The editorial office was then contacted by Professor Y, not included in the coauthors’ list, who referred to research abuse in the article and requested its retraction. In particular, Professor Y presented a careful evaluation of the article available online, finding that more than half… - Seminars and webinars
Legal issues in corrections, retractions and expressions of concern — Mark Seeley, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Elsevier
…Download presentation: Legal issues in corrections, retractions and expressions of concern [PDF, 100KB]… - Case
Retractions of primary literature papers: how should a review journal react?
In a recent and very prominent case of publication misconduct resulting in the retraction of 12 research papers (to date), many journals have been included in ‘round-mails’ from the whistleblower and other scientists. Our journal (a reviews and features journal) has published a review from the main author associated with the misconduct, which contains reference to six of the retracted… - Case
Retraction of the first article in the case of duplicate publication
…the article without their agreement. From the date of submission to journal B and date of publication in journal A, we knew that the manuscript was under consideration in both journals simultaneously. We were therefore not satisfied with the authors’ response and, as we had the later publication, we proceeded to contact the authors, informing them that we intended to retract their article. In… - Seminars and webinars
Legal issues in corrections and retractions — Joss Saunders, Blake Lapthorn Solicitors
- Case
Is retraction justified because of an author dispute over permission to use data?
Author X recently published a paper in Journal Y and has asked for the paper to be retracted. The reason given is that part of the data presented in the paper was published without the permission of a colleague, who is not listed as an author of the paper (and probably does not qualify for full authorship). This colleague is now seeking to publish the data in another journal and it is implied… - Case
Dual publication and attempted retraction by the author
An author who published an article in Journal A at the end of the year wrote to advise that it would have to be retracted on the grounds that his PhD tutor, Professor X, had already submitted a similar manuscript more than a year earlier to another journal. In the absence of any contact from the tutor, the author had assumed that this manuscript had not been accepted and went ahead with her… - Case
Enquiry regarding copyright/retractions
A journal received a paper that had previously been retracted from another publisher’s journal as a result of malpractice in the peer review process (a result of reviewer/editor misconduct rather than actions on the part of the authors). Having reviewed various sources of guidance, it would appear that there is some precedent for re-publication of retracted papers (suitably corrected… - Case
Retraction request after university investigation found no evidence of fraud
…a retraction on the basis that the university investigation did not support their charges against Dr Y. An exposé reported by Professor Z re-stated the claim of fraud and was forwarded to the journal. The journal contacted Professor Z (head of department). Professor Z replied with details of the situation and letters of exoneration. The journal discussed the issues and agreed no action was needed - Case
Retraction because of scientific misconduct even if the conclusions are sound?
…that a correction was more 'borderline'. For the remaining two papers, the committee did not find any justification for 'eventual corrections'. However, they believed that the scientific results and conclusions generated by all four papers were solid and were not qualitatively invalidated by the manipulated images. They suggested that this fact be mentioned in any eventual retractions. … - Seminars and webinars
Seminar 2021: Reducing the inadvertent spread of retracted science: taxonomy considerations
In this webinar, the speakers discussed findings from a Sloan funded project, Reducing the inadvertent spread of retracted science. Panelists shared resources for educating authors, editors, and other stakeholders about the importance of retraction, ideas for emerging cross industry collaborations, and suggestions… - Case
Retraction of article from 1994
…on the patient without consent. In the debate that followed, several things were written from both “sides”. In professor B’s opinion, professor A has throughout this last debate actually admitted that the patients he included in his 1994 paper were part of a research project and that they had not given consent. He now asks the editor of journal X to retract this paper. What should the editor… - Case
Retract, correct, or both?
…better to do this in the form of a correction, setting out the circumstances and including any supplementary information supplied by the claimant, or to retract the paper and allow the claimant to re-submit a revised version, accompanied by a notice of some kind. And whether it would be worth publishing a statement of concern in the meantime while investigations are ongoing. The paper itself is… - Case
Question of paper retraction due to proven fabricated data
A published paper has been under legal scrutiny due to fabricated data. The court has concluded that the evidence presented undermined the credibility of the study. We have read the COPE guidelines for retracting an article and have checked the flowchart 'What to do if you expect fabricated data'. From reading the guidelines it seems that the editor has the right to retract the paper and to do… - Case
Retraction or correction?
…corrected tables had now been provided. The editors insist on retracting this paper because they do not believe the mistake was an error but an intentional reproduction of previously published work. Question for COPE Council How should the publisher proceed with this case? The authors are asking for a corrigendum and the editors are insisting upon a retraction… - Case
A claim of stolen data and a demand for retractions
…results as a subcontractor on one of his grants. Furthermore, author B demanded the article be retracted. Author A alerted author B to their intention to publish in 2009, to which no response was received. Author A says that the data were obtained in his laboratory in joint work with authors B and C. Author C says that the data were obtained by him and author B, and only disclosed to author A afterwards…