Intellectual property

Introduction

At TISJ, we recognize the importance of protecting intellectual property (IP) rights, which are fundamental to the advancement of scientific knowledge. As a responsible academic journal, we adhere to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on intellectual property to ensure that the work we publish is ethically sound, properly attributed, and legally protected.

This Intellectual Property Policy outlines our approach to handling intellectual property in relation to the research we publish, including authorship, copyright, licensing, and the fair use of intellectual property.

Authorship and Ownership of Intellectual Property

Authorship

The intellectual property rights of the research, including the ownership of data, findings, and methods, are primarily attributed to the authors. Authors must ensure that their work is original and that they are fully responsible for the content of their research. All contributors to the research should be appropriately acknowledged according to their contributions.

Authorship Order

The order of authorship should reflect the contributions of each individual to the research and manuscript preparation. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors are in agreement with the manuscript's contents, including the authorship order.

Corresponding Author

The corresponding author is responsible for communicating with the editorial office, ensuring that all authors have approved the final version of the manuscript, and handling any disputes or issues related to authorship.

Rights of Contributors

Authors must ensure that their work is free from any claims of prior ownership or conflicts of interest. Any issues of data sharing, copyright, or authorship disputes should be resolved before submission. Authors should provide clear documentation of their contributions in the manuscript.

Copyright and Licensing

Copyright Transfer

Copyright is retained by authors. Authors, by submitting the paper, grants TISJ, which identifies itself as the original publisher, exclusive rights to publish their articles, and also grants any third party the right to use the articles freely as long as the integrity is maintained and the original authors, citation details and publisher are identified.

Open Access

Articles in TISJ are published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). The CC BY 4.0 allows for maximum dissemination and re-use of open access materials and is preferred by many research funding bodies. Under this license users are free to share (copy, distribute and transmit) and remix (adapt) the contribution for any purposes, even commercially, provided that the users appropriately acknowledge the original authors and the source.

Publisher's Rights

The journal reserves the right to publish, distribute, and archive the accepted manuscript in various formats (e.g., print, online, databases). The journal also holds the rights to the layout, formatting, and presentation of the work, ensuring it meets the journal's editorial standards.

Retained Rights

Authors are generally allowed to reuse their work for non-commercial purposes, such as in future research, academic teaching, or conferences. The specific terms of reuse are outlined in the licensing agreement, and authors must always credit the journal where the work was originally published.

Use of Third-Party Materials

Permissions for Third-Party Content

Authors are responsible for ensuring that any third-party content (e.g., images, tables, or datasets) included in their manuscript is properly credited and that the necessary permissions have been obtained for its use. This includes any copyrighted material or proprietary data that is not the author’s original work.

Fair Use and Attribution

Authors must follow the principle of fair use when citing third-party content. All third-party material must be attributed to its original source in accordance with copyright law and the publisher's guidelines. The journal expects authors to provide proper citations and to obtain permission where necessary.

Licensing Agreements

If third-party material is included in a manuscript, authors must provide copies of the licensing agreements or permissions for its use. This ensures that the journal can distribute and publish the content in compliance with copyright law.

Plagiarism and Research Misconduct

Plagiarism

TISJ upholds a strict policy against plagiarism. Authors must ensure that all content is original and that any work or ideas not their own are properly cited and attributed to the original authors.

Misuse of Intellectual Property

Any misuse of intellectual property, such as data fabrication, falsification, or failure to attribute sources correctly, is considered a serious violation of the journal’s ethical standards. In accordance with COPE guidelines, suspected instances of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken, including manuscript retraction, corrections, or other measures as deemed necessary.

Patentability

Patent Protection

Research that involves novel ideas or inventions may be subject to patent protection. Authors are encouraged to secure any necessary patents or intellectual property rights before submitting their manuscript for publication. Once a patent is filed, authors should clearly acknowledge the relevant intellectual property in their manuscript.

Disclosure of Patents

Authors must disclose any pending or granted patents related to the research described in the manuscript. This disclosure is important for transparency and to avoid any potential conflicts of interest.

Disputes and Resolution of IP Conflicts

Authorship Disputes

In the event of a dispute regarding authorship or intellectual property rights, the journal expects authors to resolve the issue in accordance with COPE guidelines. If an agreement cannot be reached, the journal may involve appropriate institutional authorities, including research ethics committees or legal advisors.

Intellectual Property Conflicts

If there are disputes regarding the ownership or use of intellectual property (e.g., data, findings, or research methods), the journal will follow a transparent process to investigate the issue. The journal may seek input from the involved parties, including the authors, institutions, and relevant intellectual property bodies, to resolve the conflict.

Resolution Process

The journal is committed to providing a fair and impartial resolution process. Any claims of intellectual property misconduct or disputes will be handled with respect for the parties involved, ensuring a transparent and ethical approach to resolution.

Conclusion

TISJ is committed to protecting the intellectual property rights of authors while ensuring that published work is ethically sound and legally compliant. By adhering to this Intellectual Property Policy, we strive to promote transparency, fair use, and respect for the original contributions of researchers in the academic community.

For any questions regarding intellectual property issues or concerns, please contact the editorial office at journal@topitalianscientists.org.