Publication ethics
Principles we do not trade away.
Editorial integrity and proper process sit at the centre of every ScholarBridge engagement. This page explains the boundaries that guide our work with journals, authors and reviewers.
ScholarBridge publication ethics policy
Our commitments
ScholarBridge supports scholarly publishing without taking ownership of academic judgement. We work to documented scopes, protect confidential material and keep a clear record of what has been produced, reviewed and handed over.
We expect the journals we support to maintain appropriate editorial policies, declare conflicts of interest and handle manuscripts fairly. Where a request would require us to compromise those expectations, we will raise it rather than proceed.
Editorial independence
Academic and acceptance decisions belong to the journal's editorial leadership. ScholarBridge does not accept or reject manuscripts, select reviewers on the basis of an expected outcome, or pressure an editor toward a particular decision.
We may provide operational guidance — such as workflow options, metadata requirements or production considerations — but the final judgement remains with your editorial board.
Peer review & confidentiality
Manuscripts and reviewer information are treated as confidential. Access should be limited to team members who need it to deliver the agreed service, and reviewer identities should never be disclosed outside the journal's chosen review model.
We recommend documented access controls, secure file sharing and a clear retention schedule. Final confidentiality and retention terms should be agreed in writing before work begins.
Similarity checking
Similarity reports are decision-support tools, not verdicts. We use third-party checking services and present results clearly so editors can review context, exclusions and source relevance before taking action.
We do not use similarity scores alone to reject manuscripts or make accusations of misconduct. Questions of research integrity should follow the journal's published procedure.
Concerns & corrections
If a concern about authorship, data, originality, citation or reviewer conduct arises, it should be escalated promptly to the journal's editor-in-chief or designated ethics contact. We will support the process with the records and technical information available to us.
Corrections, expressions of concern and retractions remain editorial decisions. We can help maintain the associated metadata and public record once a decision has been made.
Contact
To discuss publication ethics, confidentiality or a specific workflow concern, contact our team before the project begins. We will explain what we can support and where your editorial board remains responsible.