COPE Guidelines for Publication Ethics
Committee on Publication Ethics Guidelines and Resources · Also known as: COPE, Publication Ethics Flowcharts, Editorial Guidelines
The Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), founded in 1997, is an international organization of journal editors and publishers that promotes and advances research integrity and publication ethics. COPE provides practical guidance through flowcharts, position statements, and ethical guidelines addressing misconduct (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism), authorship disputes, conflicts of interest, and corrections. COPE's resources are freely available and adopted by thousands of journals globally. COPE is not a regulator; it advises editors and researchers on handling ethical issues and promotes a culture of integrity in publishing.
Read the full method
Sign in with a free account to read this section.
Method map
The neighbourhood of related methods — select a node to explore.
When to use it
Use COPE guidelines when: (1) Writing a manuscript (understand authorship, conflicts of interest, data availability expectations). (2) Serving as a journal editor or reviewer (handle ethical issues correctly). (3) Investigating misconduct (follow due process outlined in flowcharts). (4) Setting institutional research integrity policies (adopt COPE principles). (5) Teaching research ethics (COPE materials are educational). Any researcher or editor can access COPE resources; they are public goods.
Strengths & limitations
- Free, public resource accessible globally; democratizes research ethics knowledge.
- Practical flowcharts provide step-by-step guidance for complex ethical situations.
- Internationally inclusive: COPE involves editors and researchers from 170+ countries, ensuring guidance is culturally informed.
- Evidence-based: COPE guidance reflects international standards (e.g., ICMJE criteria, ORI definitions) and consensus among thousands of journals.
- Transparent: flowcharts show reasoning and decision points, allowing editors to justify decisions and appeals.
- Continuously updated: COPE revises guidance as new issues emerge (e.g., preprints, AI-generated text in manuscripts).
- COPE provides guidance, not enforcement; journals and authors can ignore COPE principles without legal consequence.
- Flowcharts assume editors have resources (time, expertise) to investigate; under-resourced journals may not follow procedures.
- COPE guidance is general; specific situations may require institutional or disciplinary judgment beyond flowchart logic.
- Limited authority: COPE has no power to sanction journals or authors; it advises only.
- Not all journals are COPE members; non-member journals may not follow COPE principles.
Frequently asked
Is COPE a regulator? Can COPE punish authors or journals?
No. COPE is advisory, not regulatory. COPE provides guidance and best practices, but has no legal authority to sanction authors, journals, or publishers. Enforcement comes from institutions (universities, research integrity offices), funding agencies, and journals themselves. COPE's power is moral persuasion: most editors respect COPE guidance because it is internationally recognized as ethical best practice.
What if a journal does not follow COPE guidelines?
Journals are free to adopt or ignore COPE guidance (COPE has no enforcement power). However, journals that ignore COPE often face skepticism from editors, reviewers, and authors. Major publishers endorse COPE, so non-compliant journals may be viewed as lower-quality. Researchers can check whether a journal is a COPE member (listed on COPE website) as a sign of ethical commitment.
Can I cite COPE guidelines in my manuscript?
Yes. COPE guidelines and flowcharts are public resources. You can cite them as references when discussing research ethics, authorship, or publication practices. Example: 'Following COPE guidelines for authorship [cite], we defined authors as those meeting all four ICMJE criteria.' This demonstrates awareness of ethical standards.
If my institution's research office and COPE disagree on an ethical issue, which do I follow?
Follow your institution's policy first, as they have authority over you. However, COPE guidance is internationally recognized; if your institution's policy contradicts COPE, that may be a sign your institution's policy is outdated. Most institutions align with or adopt COPE principles. If conflict arises, discuss with your research office; they should be able to explain alignment with COPE or justify any deviations.
Are COPE flowcharts updated as research ethics evolves?
Yes. COPE regularly revises flowcharts and publishes new guidance on emerging issues. Examples: preprints (2020 position), AI-generated text in manuscripts (2023 position). Subscribe to COPE updates (publicationethics.org) to stay current. COPE is responsive to evolving concerns in research publishing.
Sources
- Committee on Publication Ethics (2023). COPE Guidelines. COPE Website. link ↗
- Committee on Publication Ethics (2022). COPE Handbook of Authorship, Authorship Disputes, and Conflicts of Interest. COPE. link ↗
- Oreskes, N. (2012). Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming. Bloomsbury Press. link ↗
How to cite this page
ScholarGate. (2026, June 3). Committee on Publication Ethics Guidelines and Resources. ScholarGate. https://scholargate.app/en/publication-ethics/cope-guidelines
Which method?
Set this method beside its closest kin and read them side by side — the library lays the books on the table; the choice is yours.
- Article Retraction ProcessPublication Ethics↔ compare
- Duplicate Publication and Salami SlicingPublication Ethics↔ compare
- ICMJE Authorship CriteriaPublication Ethics↔ compare
- Plagiarism in Academic ResearchPublication Ethics↔ compare