COPE Guidelines for Publication Ethics

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.