Publication Ethics

Malton London Press expects authors, editors and reviewers to act honestly, respect the rights of others and protect the integrity of the scholarly record. Ethical concerns can be reported to info@maltonlondonpress.com, identifying the work and the basis of the concern. Reports are assessed on their evidence, including reports made anonymously where sufficient information is supplied.

Authorship and originality

Authors must have made a substantial contribution, approve the submitted work and accept responsibility for its accuracy. Contributors whose involvement does not justify authorship should be acknowledged with permission. Ghost authorship, honorary authorship, plagiarism, fabricated evidence, falsified results and manipulated citations are unacceptable. Changes to authorship require an explanation and agreement from the affected contributors.

Authors must disclose prior publications, thesis deposits and overlapping manuscripts. An openly deposited thesis is not automatically excluded, but its relationship to the proposed book must be clear. Reused text, figures and previously published chapters require proper attribution and any necessary permission. Similarity indicators support editorial judgement; a numerical score alone does not establish misconduct.

Research participants and underlying evidence

Research involving people, animals or sensitive information must meet the relevant ethical requirements. Authors provide approval information and consent statements where applicable, and explain exemptions. Identifiable personal information must not be published without an appropriate basis. Data and materials statements should explain what is available, where it can be accessed, and any justified restrictions. Confidential or sensitive data need not be made public merely to obtain publication.

Competing interests and funding

Authors disclose funding and interests that readers could reasonably consider relevant to the work. Editors and reviewers declare interests before accepting a task and withdraw where impartiality cannot be maintained. Relevant author disclosures appear in the publication. Funding or sponsorship must not control the results, conclusions or editorial decision.

Use of artificial intelligence

AI tools cannot be authors. Authors remain responsible for every claim, reference, image and analysis. Material use of generative AI in producing text, images, code or analysis must be disclosed, including its purpose and the human checks performed. Routine spelling and grammar assistance need not be listed. Undisclosed fabricated references or invented evidence are unacceptable regardless of the tool used. Editors and reviewers must not place confidential submissions in external AI systems without permission and appropriate safeguards.

Investigation and action

We assess a concern, preserve relevant evidence, seek a response from the people involved and consult independent expertise where needed. We may pause publication or refer a matter to an appropriate institution. Outcomes depend on the evidence and may include clarification, revision, rejection, correction, an expression of concern or retraction. The process is not determined by whether a fee has been paid.

Corrections and the scholarly record

Corrections

Readers and authors should report errors with the title, DOI or URL, location of the error and supporting information. Where an error affects understanding, attribution or reliability, we publish a dated correction linked to the original record. The notice explains the change and identifies the affected version. Minor typographical corrections may be recorded in a version note without a separate substantive notice.

Expressions of concern

Where a serious concern remains unresolved and readers need to be informed, we may publish an expression of concern. It explains the nature of the uncertainty without presenting unverified allegations as established facts. We update the record when the investigation concludes.

Retractions

A publication may be retracted where its findings or central argument are unreliable because of serious error or misconduct, or where significant plagiarism, unethical research or another fundamental breach is established. A retraction notice identifies the work, explains the reason and states who issued the notice. We retain the bibliographic record and mark the work clearly so readers can understand its status.

Removal of full text is exceptional, for example where required by law or necessary to address a serious privacy or safety issue. Where possible, the record and an explanatory notice remain available. We do not silently erase a publication or reuse its DOI for a different work.

Version control and notification

Substantive changes are dated and documented. Corrected files identify their version, and the publication page links to the relevant notice. Where appropriate, we update deposited metadata and notify known distribution partners. Copies already downloaded or held by third parties may remain in circulation; the publisher’s record explains the current status.

Editorial independence and advertising

Commercial sponsorship and any paid promotional content must be identified. Advertisers and sponsors do not choose reviewers, determine editorial decisions or suppress justified corrections. We do not sell authorship, favourable reviews, guaranteed citations or guaranteed inclusion in an index.

Professional standards

We use relevant recognised publication-ethics guidance when considering a case. Referring to external guidance does not imply membership of, certification by or endorsement from the organisation that issues it. Complaints about the handling of an ethics case follow the Complaints and Appeals policy.