Publication Ethics

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement *

Revista Jurídica Portucalense is a peer-review publication dedicated to the reflection, investigation and dissemination in all areas of legal knowledge. It is committed to ensure the highest standards of ethics in the evaluation and publication of each article and to assure honesty and academic integrity. All parties involved must comply with best practices in the publication, respecting ethical behaviour standards.

Authors, Editors and Reviewers should, therefore, contribute to the insurance of standards of ethical behaviour, by committing to the principles of the declaration of ethics and good practices in the publication upheld by Revista Jurídica Portucalense.

Therefore, each party must commit to the following practices:

A. Responsibilities

Responsibilities of the Board, Editorial Board

It is the Editorial Board responsibility:

  • accept, reject or request changes to the articles submitted to the journal, taking into account the Reviewers' opinions, the journal's guidelines and the legal requirements connected with defamation, violation of copyright and plagiarism;
  • take appropriate response measures whenever complaints are made on the ethics underlying articles submission or publication processes;
  • remove the article from online databases, including the journal's website, in case of a significant error or plagiarism detection. To take the necessary legal measures in case of plagiarism;
  • respond in due time to any complaints about an article submitted or published;
  • ensure that each article is evaluated solely based on its academic merit and its relevance to the journal;
  • ensure a fair, impartial and timely scientific arbitration process, as well as the transparency in the editing and publishing processes;
  • assure that information on the submitted articles is only disclosed to reviewers or other editorial consultants, whenever appropriate;
  • ensure that editorial members will not use unpublished information in their research activity without the express written consent of the Author;
  • publish corrections, clarifications, retractions and apologies, whenever necessary;
  • contribute to the integrity of the archive of the journal.

Authors Responsibilities

It is the Authors responsibility:

  • present a rigorous version of their research as well as an objective view of its meaning;
  • ensure that the articles they submit are original and that any input from other authors or sources used are appropriately accredited and referenced. The submission of certain types of text (such as translations) in more than one publication is sometimes justified, provided the observance of certain conditions. Authors and Editors of the publications involved must agree to the secondary publication. The primary reference should be cited in the secondary publication;
  • guarantee that the same article is not submitted simultaneously to more than one publication. The Author responsible for the submission must ensure that all co-authors approve the final version of the article and its submission for publication in the journal;
  • assure that all sources of financial support are referenced;
  • immediately notify the Editorial Board in case of significant error or inaccuracy in a submitted manuscript and to collaborate to correct the error. If necessary, to withdraw the publication.

Reviewers Responsibilities

It is the Reviewers responsibility:

  • keep confidential all information and ideas regarding articles submitted for publication, which should not be shared or discussed with others, except when authorised by the Editorial Board (which will only do so under exceptional and specific circumstances);
  • not to use unpublished material disclosed in an article submitted for their research without the express written consent of the authors. Information or ideas obtained through peer review should be kept secret and should not be used for personal advantage;
  • decide to accept or reject a manuscript based on its importance, originality and clarity, as well as on the validity of the study and its fit within the journal scope;
  • notify editors of any substantial similarity or overlap between an article under consideration and any other work (published or unpublished) of which they are aware;
  • immediately inform the Editor if, having been asked for reviewing an article, do not feel qualified to review it or anticipates that will not be able to complete the review within the necessary set of time;
  • structure the opinions and observations objectively and clearly, with argumentation that supports them, so that the authors can improve the text. To recommend relevant publications when they are not cited;
  • not to consider reviewing articles for which there is any conflict of interest, immediately notifying the editorial team and refusing the invitation to evaluate those articles.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

It is the Publisher responsibility:

  • guarantee the autonomy of editorial decisions;
  • protect intellectual property and copyright, authors and publishing partners by promoting and keeping track of each published version;
  • defend the transparency of each published article concerning conflicts of interest, research funding, research ethics, confidentiality and authorship;
  • take all appropriate measures, in collaboration with the journal's editorial team, to clarify or amend the article in question in cases of alleged or proven scientific misconduct, fraudulent publication or plagiarism. These include the immediate publication of an erratum, clarification, correction or, in more severe cases, retraction of the work in question;
  • take reasonable steps to identify and prevent publication of articles where research misconduct has occurred, and under no circumstances, encourage or allow such fault to occur.

B. Procedures for Unethical Behaviour

Identification of unethical behaviour

Misconduct and unethical behaviour must be identified and reported to the Editorial Team at any time by anyone.

Information regarding unethical behaviour must be accompanied by sufficient evidence to initiate an investigation.

All claims should be taken seriously and treated in the same way until a decision or conclusion is reached.

Investigation

The decision of an inquiry should be made by the Editor, who should consult the journal's Editorial Board, when appropriate.

Evidence should be gathered while avoiding spreading any allegations about the case.

Mild Infringements

Undesirable conduct can be resolved by contacting the Author or Reviewer without further procedures.

The Author should be allowed to respond to any claims.

Serious Infringements

The Author or Reviewer should be contacted, establishing a response deadline. The editorial team should be very clear about the date by which an answer should be given.

Serious misconduct may require contacting the Author or Reviewer Institution. The Editor, along with the journal's Editorial Board, as appropriate, should decide on this involvement by analysing the available information.

Procedures (in ascending order of seriousness; can be applied separately or together)

Inform the Author or the Reviewer of misapplication of acceptable standards.

A warning letter addressed to the Author or Reviewer regarding their conduct, as a warning to prevent future behaviour.

Publication of a formal notice detailing the misconduct.

Publication of an editorial detailing the misconduct.

A formal letter to the hierarchical superior of the Author's Institution, Reviewer or funding agency.

Retraction or withdrawal of a publication, informing the Author or Reviewer Institution, and the publication readers.

The imposition of a formal embargo on the Author or Reviewer contributions for a specified period.

Report the case to the higher authority for investigation and further action.

Access to journal content

Revista Jurídica Portucalense is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of academic research, making every effort to ensure the accessibility and maintenance of the journal's digital archives.


* This document, Statement of Ethics and Good Publication Practices, has been based on and consistent with the document Core Practices, of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).