Corrections, Retractions & Withdrawals Policy

Overview

Veridion Press is committed to preserving the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of the scholarly record. Despite rigorous editorial and peer-review processes, circumstances may arise that require post-submission or post-publication action.

This policy defines the procedures for corrections, retractions, and withdrawals, clearly distinguishing between actions taken before publication and those required after publication, in line with internationally recognized best practices.

Veridion Press follows the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Guiding Principles

All actions under this policy are governed by the following principles:

  • Preservation of the scholarly record
  • Transparency and accountability
  • Fair and unbiased editorial decision-making
  • Independence from financial or institutional influence
  • Compliance with international publishing ethics standards

Definitions

Correction

A correction is issued when a published work contains an error that does not invalidate the research findings or conclusions, but requires clarification or amendment.

Retraction

A retraction applies to published articles that are found to be unreliable, unethical, or seriously flawed, such that their findings should not be relied upon.

Withdrawal

A withdrawal applies only to manuscripts that have not yet been formally published and therefore are not part of the scholarly record.

Corrections Policy

When Corrections Are Issued

Corrections may be issued for:

  • Typographical or formatting errors
  • Minor data or calculation errors
  • Incorrect author affiliations
  • Errors in figures, tables, or references that do not affect conclusions
  • Missing acknowledgements or funding disclosures

Correction Procedure

  1. An issue is reported by an author, editor, reviewer, or reader
  2. The editorial team assesses the impact of the error
  3. Authors may be asked to provide corrected information
  4. A Correction Notice is published and linked to the original article
  5. The original article remains accessible and unchanged, except for links to the correction

Corrections are clearly labeled and dated.

Retractions Policy (Post-Publication)

Grounds for Retraction

A published article may be retracted if one or more of the following is confirmed:

  • Research misconduct (plagiarism, fabrication, falsification)
  • Major errors invalidating the results or conclusions
  • Duplicate or redundant publication
  • Ethical violations (e.g., lack of ethical approval or consent)
  • Undisclosed conflicts of interest that compromise interpretation
  • Authorship manipulation or misrepresentation

Retraction Investigation Process

  1. A concern is raised by editors, reviewers, institutions, readers, or third parties
  2. The editorial office conducts an initial assessment
  3. Authors and, where appropriate, institutions are contacted
  4. An investigation is carried out following COPE guidance
  5. Authors are given an opportunity to respond
  6. A retraction decision is made based on evidence and ethical standards

COPE Retraction Guidelines: https://publicationethics.org/retraction-guidelines

Retraction Notice and Transparency

When an article is retracted:

  • A Retraction Notice is published and permanently linked to the article
  • The notice clearly states:
    • Full citation details
    • Who initiated the retraction
    • The reason(s) for retraction
  • Retractions are issued to correct the scholarly record, not to punish authors

Retraction Metadata and Content Handling

(Post-Publication Only)

For retracted articles, Veridion Press applies the following measures:

  • The word “RETRACTED:” is added at the beginning of the article title in the metadata
  • The original article PDF remains available, but:
    • A clear watermark stating “RETRACTED” appears on every page
  • A Retraction Notice is added to the abstract section of the metadata
  • The HTML version of the article may be removed to prevent unmarked dissemination
  • All public versions clearly indicate the retracted status

These steps ensure transparency while preserving the scholarly record.

Withdrawal Policy (Pre-Publication Only)

Author-Initiated Withdrawals

Authors may request withdrawal before formal publication (i.e., before DOI assignment or online release).

Requests must:

  • Be submitted in writing by the corresponding author
  • Include a valid reason
  • Be approved by the editorial office

Late-Stage Withdrawals (Exceptional)

Withdrawals requested after peer review or acceptance are discouraged and considered only under exceptional circumstances, such as:

  • Discovery of fundamental errors
  • Ethical or legal concerns
  • Duplicate submission identified prior to publication

Late-stage withdrawals:

  • Require consent from all authors
  • Are subject to editorial review
  • May have administrative implications

Publisher-Initiated Withdrawals

Veridion Press may withdraw a manuscript prior to publication if evidence of misconduct, ethical violations, or legal risk is identified.

Withdrawn manuscripts:

  • Are not published
  • Are not assigned DOIs
  • Are not indexed or publicly accessible

Expressions of Concern

If serious concerns arise and an investigation is ongoing, Veridion Press may issue an Expression of Concern to inform readers while the matter is being resolved.

This follows COPE recommendations for transparency.

Complaints and Third-Party Allegations

Concerns may be raised by:

  • Readers
  • Reviewers
  • Institutions
  • Funding agencies

All complaints are:

  • Logged formally
  • Reviewed confidentially
  • Investigated fairly
  • Resolved with documented outcomes

Anonymous allegations are considered when supported by credible evidence.

Financial Independence

Decisions regarding corrections, retractions, or withdrawals are never influenced by:

  • APC payments
  • Funding sources
  • Institutional affiliations

Editorial integrity remains paramount.

Author Responsibilities

Authors are expected to:

  • Promptly report errors or concerns
  • Cooperate with investigations
  • Provide accurate and complete information
  • Adhere to ethical publishing standards

Editorial and Publisher Responsibilities

Editors and the publisher will:

  • Act impartially and transparently
  • Avoid conflicts of interest
  • Follow established ethical procedures
  • Communicate clearly with all parties
  • Take corrective action when required

Appeals Process

Authors may appeal decisions related to corrections or retractions by submitting a written appeal with supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed independently.

Contact Information

📧 Email: ethics@veridionpress.org