Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement

The International Journal of Contents (IJoC) and its publisher are committed to upholding the highest standards of research and publication ethics, in accordance with the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized international guidelines. This policy ensures integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct at all stages of the research and publication process. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to adhere to best-practice guidelines on ethical behavior. Key points are summarized below, but it is recommended to consult the following documents for comprehensive guidance.

1. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship credit should be based on four key criteria: 1) substantial contributions to conception, design, acquisition of data, analysis, or interpretation of data; 2) drafting the article or revising it critically for intellectual content; 3) final approval of the version to be published; and 4) agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring that any questions related to accuracy or integrity are appropriately investigated and resolved. All authors must meet these conditions. After initial submission, any changes in authorship (adding, removing, or reordering authors) must be explained in a letter to the editor, signed by all authors. Copyright assignment must also be completed by each author.

In multidisciplinary or collaborative research, specific contributions of each author should be clearly outlined. Contributors who provided general support, funding, or supervision without direct involvement in the research should be acknowledged in the Acknowledgments section. Only one author should correspond with the editorial office and readers. IJoC does not allow multiple corresponding authors per article, but does allow for co-first authorship if clearly justified. The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring all listed authors meet authorship criteria. IJoC does not correct authorship after publication unless an error was made by the editorial staff. Authorship can be changed after submission but before publication, provided all authors involved agree to the change.

2. Originality, Plagiarism, and Duplicate Publication

All submissions must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. Authors are responsible for ensuring proper citation and avoiding plagiarism, including self-plagiarism. Manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using industry-standard tools (e.g., iThenticate), and any found with plagiarized content may be rejected. Authors must obtain and provide permission for any previously published material included in their work, including text, figures, and tables.

3. Handling Conflict of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, whether financial, personal, or institutional, that might influence research outcomes or publication decisions. Editors and reviewers with conflicts should recuse themselves from handling the manuscript. Alternative reviewers or editors will be assigned as necessary to maintain objectivity.

4. Data Integrity and Fabrication

Authors must ensure data accuracy and avoid fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate manipulation. Raw data should be available upon request for verification. Image manipulation is permitted only to clarify presentation without altering data meaning. Methods should be detailed enough for reproducibility, and authors are encouraged to share datasets and code publicly.

5. Ethical Approval and Informed Consent

Research involving human subjects must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki and have prior approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or ethics committee. Manuscripts should include ethics approval details, such as committee name, approval code, and date. Animal research should follow the 3Rs Principle (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), with ethical approval from the relevant institutional body. For ICT-related research involving personal or sensitive data, authors must protect participants' privacy, anonymize data, and inform participants about data collection and use.

Informed consent must be obtained for research involving human subjects, including for participation and, where applicable, for publication of identifiable data. A blank consent form should be submitted with the manuscript. For non-interventional studies (e.g., surveys or social media research), participants should be informed about the research nature, anonymity rights, and data usage.

6. Handling Misconduct Allegations

The journal investigates all allegations of misconduct, including plagiarism, data falsification, and unethical behavior, in line with COPE’s guidelines. If necessary, the journal may contact authors' institutions or funders for assistance in resolving cases. Misconduct investigations follow a structured approach to ensure fairness and transparency.

7. Peer Review Process

Peer review is conducted impartially and confidentially. Reviewers provide constructive feedback to improve the manuscript, avoiding personal criticism. Reviewers and editors must keep manuscript information confidential and refrain from using unpublished data for personal research. Reviewers with potential conflicts of interest should disclose them and decline to review the manuscript.

8. Transparency in Data and Methods

Authors must provide detailed descriptions of methods, ensuring data availability for scrutiny and replication. Authors are encouraged to make their data and code publicly accessible. In computational studies, source code and datasets should be shared to enable verification and reproduction of findings, with transparency in algorithm design and assumptions.

9. Research Ethics Committee

The Research Ethics Committee (the "Committee") shall oversee and review matters related to research ethics and integrity. The Committee consists of no more than twenty members, appointed by the President of The Korea Contents Association, including vice-presidents and directors from relevant departments. The President of The Korea Contents Association appoints the Chair from among vice-presidents, while the Vice-Chair and Secretary are elected by Committee members. Committee members serve a one-year term and may be reappointed. The Committee meets upon request by the President or Chair, requires a majority for quorum, and makes decisions by majority vote. Members involved in cases must recuse themselves. Confidentiality of deliberations and submitted materials is mandatory.

10. Secondary and Dual Use Publications

Secondary publication is permitted if it meets ICMJE criteria and is clearly marked to avoid duplication concerns. Authors should disclose dual-use research and outline measures to balance societal benefits with risks.

11. Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

The journal addresses honest errors through published corrections linked to the original article. Retractions, following COPE guidelines, are issued for major errors or ethical violations. Editorial expressions of concern are published when necessary.

12. Editorial Responsibilities

Editors are responsible for maintaining the journal's academic integrity and ensuring that business considerations do not affect intellectual standards. Editors make unbiased decisions based on merit and ensure corrections or retractions are issued as needed. They also protect reviewer confidentiality and anonymity.

13. Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Algorithms

In studies using AI or automated systems, authors must ensure algorithmic transparency, fairness, and non-discrimination. Ethical considerations regarding bias and fairness should be addressed in the manuscript. Authors should disclose potential AI model biases and describe measures for fairness. For further details, refer to the AI section.

14. Social and Environmental Responsibility

Authors must consider broader social and environmental impacts, especially in ICT applications. Research should assess both positive and negative outcomes, with strategies to mitigate adverse effects.

15. Sex and Gender Considerations

Authors are encouraged to include sex and gender analysis in research when relevant. If not applicable, authors should explain why it was omitted.

16. Clinical Trial Registration

All clinical trials must be registered in a publicly accessible database (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov) before participant enrollment. Authors should include the trial registration number and adhere to CONSORT guidelines.

17. Neutrality of Borders and Territories

The journal maintains neutrality regarding territorial claims in maps or affiliations. Authors should avoid bias and address issues related to disputed territories impartially.