This policy explains the guidelines for our books in the publication process. In particular, Pen Academic adopts and strives to comply with the following standards and requirements:

• COPE - Committee on Publication Ethics
• ICMJE - International Committee of Medical Journal Editors
• STM - International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers
• WAME – World Association of Medical Editors

1. Authorship

An author is a person who contributes significantly to the development of an book-chapter. The ICMJE recommends that authorship be based on the following four criteria:

1. Makes significant contributions to the development of the study or obtaining, analyzing or interpreting data for the study;
2. Drafting the work or critically reviewing it for important intellectual content;
3. Final approval of the version to be published;
4. Agreement to be responsible for all aspects of the work to ensure that questions regarding the accuracy or completeness of any part of the work are properly investigated and resolved.

2. Acknowledgement

Individuals who participate in the development of an book-chapter but do not qualify as authors should be included. Organizations providing support in terms of financing and/or other resources should also be accepted.
 
3. Authorship Changes

Where changes are required in the authorship of an book-chapter or a published book-chapter, the changes will be applied according to the COPE specification. Only relevant authors can make a request for a change in authorship. All authors of the book-chapter should be requested in the same direction by e-mail to the publishing secretariat.
 
ICMJE - Defining the Role of Authors and Contributors
COPE – flowcharts on Changes in Authorship
 
4. Book and Chapter Submission

Authors should read the "For Authors" section on the web site before submitting. The book-chapter should be prepared according to the style and characteristics of the publishing policy. Authors named in the book-chapter must have fulfilled the above-mentioned Authorship requirements. If possible, the contribution rate of each of the authors should be indicated. All authors must approve the final version of the book-chapter before submitting it. Therefore, after an book-chapter is submitted, it is assumed that all authors have read the book-chapter and given consent for the book-chapter to be submitted. Contact information of all authors must be entered into the system. Last name/Other names, organization, emails and phone/fax numbers. Conflict of Interest Statement must be stated in the book-chapter. Book-chapter submission should be made via Book Management System. Not via email!

5. Conflicts of interest

A potential conflict of interest may arise from financial relationships, personal relationships or competition, academic competition, or differences in ideologies or beliefs. They can be personal, commercial, political, academic or financial. As an author,  you will have to submit a statement ensuring that:

1. Any financial support you receive (fund, donation, sponsorship) is approved.
2. A commercial or financial relationship with the potential for a conflict of interest is described in the cover letter.
3. You have not signed an agreement with your sponsor that will make the results of your research biased in any way.
4. There is no conflict of interest between the authors of the book-chapter.

If you think there is any potential conflict of interest, please describe it in the cover file.

For example;

Disclosure statement: In accordance with conflict of interest policy and my ethical obligation as a researcher, I am reporting that ………….. may be affected by the research reported in the enclosed paper. I have disclosed those interests fully to the publishing house, and I have in place an approved plan for managing any potential conflicts.

If there is no disclosure of any conflict of interest, we will publish the following statement: "No potential conflict of interest was declared by the authors".

6. Privacy

A submitted manuscript is privacy material. PEN Academic will not disclose the submitted book-chapter to anyone other than those involved in the processing and preparation of the book-chapter (if accepted) for publication. These individuals include the editorial staff, associated authors, potential reviewers, actual reviewers, and editors. However, in cases where there is a suspicion of abuse, a letter can be sent to the members of the ethics committee and to the institutions/organizations that may need it to remedy the abuse. Pen Academic will follow appropriate COPE flowcharts as needed.

7. Misconduct

Misconduct constitutes a violation of this editorial policy, editorial ethics or applicable guidelines/policies set forth by COPE, WAME, ICMJE and STM. Other activities that threaten the integrity of the research process are potential abuses. Suspected cases of abuse will be investigated according to COPE guidelines

8. Plagiarism Prevention

Pen Academic does not publish book-chapter with a high plagiarism rate. The Editorial Board has taken the view that the plagiarism of someone else's ideas, words or other creative expressions as their own is a clear violation of scientific ethics. Plagiarism can also involve a violation of copyright law that is punishable by legal action.

9. Correction and Retraction of Book-Chapter

Corrections can be made in a published book-chapter with the permission of the editor. The editors will decide the size of the revisions. Minor corrections are made directly to the original book-chapter. However, in case of major corrections, the original book-chapter will remain unchanged, the corrected version will also be published. Both the original and the corrected version will be linked together. A statement will also be published stating the reason for the major change in the book-chapter. Where necessary, the withdrawal of book-chapter will be in accordance with the COPE withdrawal guidelines.