Policy on Article Corrections, Retractions, and Removals

IPMU Journals are committed to upholding the integrity and accuracy of the scholarly record. To ensure transparency and trust in the publication process, IPMU follows strict guidelines for correcting, retracting, or removing published articles when necessary.

Article Corrections (Errata)

Minor errors that do not affect the scientific integrity or conclusions of an article may be corrected through a formal erratum. Examples include typographical mistakes, author name corrections, or minor data label errors.

• Corrections will be clearly labelled and linked to the original article.
• The original article remains unchanged, with the correction published separately.

Article Retractions

A retraction may be issued when:

• There is clear evidence of unreliable findings due to misconduct (e.g., data fabrication, falsification, plagiarism) or honest error.
• The article contains unethical research practices.
• The article is a duplicate or overlaps significantly with previously published work without proper citation.
• Legal or copyright issues arise post-publication.

Retractions are published in the journal with a clear explanation and are linked to the original article’s abstract, which remains accessible with a “Notice of Retraction” on its title and abstract. The following guideline may also be helpful: COPE Guidelines for Retracting Articles.

Article Removals

Article removal is rare and only considered in extreme cases such as:

• Defamation or legal violations.
• Endangerment to public health or safety.
• Court orders or legal compliance obligations.

In such cases, the full text of the article is removed and replaced with a statement indicating the reason for removal.

Author and Editor Responsibilities

• Authors are encouraged to report errors or ethical concerns as soon as they are identified.
• Editors, in consultation with the IPMU Ethics Board and following COPE guidelines, will determine the appropriate action and ensure transparency throughout the process.