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Ethical Guideline

PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal expects all parties involved in the publication process—including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher—to uphold principles of academic integrity and responsible scholarly communication.

The journal follows internationally recognized principles of publication ethics and takes reasonable steps to identify and address ethical concerns that may arise before, during, or after publication. The journal's ethical framework is informed by the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other relevant standards of responsible research and scholarly publishing.

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, manipulation of the peer-review process, citation manipulation, or other forms of research and publication misconduct.

Where an allegation of misconduct is received, the journal will assess the matter fairly and confidentially. Depending on the nature and seriousness of the allegation, the journal may request clarification or evidence from the authors, reviewers, editors, or relevant institutions and may take appropriate corrective action in accordance with applicable ethical standards.

All ethical concerns are handled with due consideration for procedural fairness, confidentiality, the rights of all parties involved, and the integrity of the scholarly record.

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Research Misconduct

PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) considers research misconduct to include serious violations of accepted standards of responsible research and scholarly publication. Such misconduct may occur during the design, conduct, analysis, reporting, submission, review, or publication of research.

Research misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

• Fabrication — making up data, results, sources, cases, references, or other research information and presenting them as genuine.
• Falsification — manipulating, altering, omitting, or misrepresenting research materials, data, methods, findings, or other information in a manner that may distort the research record.
• Plagiarism — presenting another person's ideas, words, data, arguments, structure, or intellectual contribution as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment.
• Duplicate or redundant publication — publishing substantially the same research or manuscript in more than one publication without appropriate disclosure and justification.
• Improper citation practices — including citation manipulation, excessive self-citation, coercive citation, or other practices intended primarily to artificially influence citation metrics.
• Authorship misconduct — including guest authorship, gift authorship, ghost authorship, exclusion of legitimate contributors, or inappropriate attribution of authorship.
• Peer-review manipulation — attempting to interfere with the integrity or independence of the peer-review process, including providing false reviewer identities, manipulating reviewer recommendations, or interfering with confidential review communications.
• Misrepresentation — providing false or misleading information concerning research, institutional affiliation, funding, ethical approval, conflicts of interest, author identity, or publication history.

When credible allegations of research misconduct are received, the journal may conduct an initial assessment and request supporting documentation. Where appropriate, the journal may contact the authors' institution or other competent authority to request an investigation or clarification.

If misconduct is established or there is sufficient evidence that the integrity of the published record has been compromised, the journal may take appropriate action, including rejection of a manuscript, correction, expression of concern, retraction, removal, or replacement of a published article, depending on the circumstances.

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Research Ethics and Ethical Clearance

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research complies with applicable ethical principles, legal requirements, institutional regulations, and professional standards. Research involving human participants, personal data, vulnerable groups, or other ethically sensitive materials must be conducted in accordance with appropriate ethical safeguards.

Where ethical approval or ethical clearance is required by the applicable institutional, national, or professional framework, authors must obtain such approval before conducting the research and must provide appropriate information about the approval when submitting the manuscript.

Authors should clearly state relevant ethical approval information in the manuscript where applicable, including the name of the approving institution or ethics committee and the approval or reference number, where such information is available and appropriate to disclose.

Research involving human participants must respect principles including informed consent, privacy, confidentiality, dignity, autonomy, and protection from unnecessary harm. Authors must ensure that personal information is handled responsibly and in accordance with applicable laws and institutional requirements.

The journal may request evidence of ethical approval or other supporting documentation when necessary to assess compliance with research ethics requirements.

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Data Sharing and Reproducibility

Authors are expected to report their research accurately and transparently and, where appropriate, provide sufficient methodological information to enable readers and other researchers to understand, assess, and potentially reproduce the research.

Where research is based on datasets, documentary sources, empirical materials, legal documents, case materials, statistical information, or other research resources, authors should provide sufficient information about the sources and methods used to obtain, analyze, and interpret the material.

Where data can be shared ethically and legally, authors are encouraged to make relevant supporting data or materials available through an appropriate repository or other reliable means. Restrictions on data sharing may apply where disclosure would violate privacy, confidentiality, intellectual property rights, contractual obligations, legal requirements, or ethical commitments.

Authors must not fabricate, falsify, selectively manipulate, or improperly omit research data or source materials in a manner that could mislead readers or distort the scholarly record.

Where data or research materials cannot reasonably be made publicly available, authors should provide an appropriate explanation where relevant.

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Duties and Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) are responsible for maintaining the quality, integrity, fairness, and transparency of the editorial and peer-review process.

Editors shall:

• evaluate submitted manuscripts based on their scholarly quality, originality, relevance, methodological soundness, and alignment with the journal's Focus and Scope;
• make editorial decisions independently and fairly, without discrimination based on authors' race, ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, institutional affiliation, political views, or other irrelevant personal characteristics;
• ensure that submitted manuscripts are handled confidentially and are not disclosed to unauthorized persons;
• select qualified and appropriate reviewers based on their expertise and the subject matter of the manuscript;
• take reasonable steps to identify and address potential plagiarism, research misconduct, publication misconduct, and conflicts of interest;
• ensure that peer-review decisions are based on scholarly assessment rather than commercial, personal, institutional, or political considerations;
• avoid using unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts for personal research or other purposes without appropriate authorization;
• respond appropriately to complaints, appeals, allegations of misconduct, and concerns regarding published articles;
• maintain the integrity of the scholarly record through appropriate corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, removals, or replacements where necessary;
• protect the confidentiality of reviewers and authors where the journal's peer-review model requires confidentiality; and
• ensure that editorial decisions are not improperly influenced by the publisher or other external parties.

Editors may reject a manuscript without external peer review where it is clearly outside the journal's scope, does not meet basic scholarly or ethical requirements, or is otherwise unsuitable for consideration. Such decisions should be made consistently and fairly.

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Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers play an essential role in maintaining the scholarly quality and integrity of PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA). Reviewers are expected to provide objective, constructive, timely, and evidence-based assessments of submitted manuscripts.

Reviewers shall:

• accept review assignments only when they have appropriate expertise and sufficient time to conduct a meaningful review;
• declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest that may affect their impartiality;
• evaluate manuscripts objectively and avoid personal criticism of authors;
• assess the scholarly quality, originality, methodology, argumentation, evidence, clarity, and relevance of the manuscript;
• identify relevant published work that has not been appropriately cited where such omissions are apparent;
• notify the editor of any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabrication, falsification, or other ethical concern;
• maintain the confidentiality of manuscripts and all information obtained through the peer-review process;
• not use unpublished information, arguments, data, or ideas obtained through peer review for personal advantage or research purposes;
• not share the manuscript with other persons unless authorized by the editor; and
• submit review reports within the agreed timeframe or promptly inform the editor if an extension or withdrawal from the assignment is necessary.

Reviewers should distinguish between major concerns that affect the validity or integrity of a manuscript and minor concerns that can be addressed through revision. Their recommendations should be supported by clear scholarly reasoning.

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Duties and Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are original, accurate, ethically conducted, and prepared in accordance with the journal's submission and publication requirements.

Authors shall:

• submit original scholarly work that has not been plagiarized or improperly copied from other sources;
• ensure that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not simultaneously submitted to another journal, unless the journal has expressly permitted such submission under exceptional circumstances;
• accurately report research methods, evidence, sources, findings, and interpretations;
• properly acknowledge and cite the work, ideas, arguments, data, and other intellectual contributions of others;
• provide appropriate information regarding research ethics and ethical approval where applicable;
• disclose relevant sources of funding and potential conflicts of interest;
• ensure that all listed authors meet the journal's authorship requirements;
• obtain appropriate permission for copyrighted materials where necessary;
• respond honestly and adequately to editorial and peer-review requests;
• cooperate with the journal in investigating potential ethical concerns relating to the submitted or published work; and
• promptly notify the journal if a significant error or inaccuracy is identified in a submitted or published article.

Authors remain responsible for the final content of their manuscripts, including the accuracy of citations, legal authorities, factual statements, analysis, conclusions, and other scholarly claims.

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Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship should accurately reflect substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript. Individuals listed as authors should have made meaningful contributions to the conception or design of the work, research or analysis, interpretation of the results, or drafting or substantive revision of the manuscript.

All authors should approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for the work, including appropriate investigation and resolution of questions relating to the accuracy or integrity of the research.

The journal does not accept:

• Guest authorship — listing an individual as an author despite the absence of a qualifying contribution.
• Gift authorship — granting authorship as a courtesy, favor, or benefit unrelated to a qualifying scholarly contribution.
• Ghost authorship — excluding an individual who made a substantial contribution that would ordinarily qualify for authorship.
• Improper authorship changes — adding, removing, or rearranging authors without appropriate agreement and justification.

The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all authors have approved the submitted manuscript and that the author list and contribution information are accurate.

Any request to change authorship after submission must be supported by an appropriate explanation and agreement from all affected authors. The journal may request additional documentation where necessary.

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Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest exists where personal, professional, financial, institutional, or other relationships or interests could reasonably be perceived as influencing the objectivity or integrity of a person's role in the publication process.

Authors must disclose relevant conflicts of interest that could affect the interpretation, evaluation, or presentation of their research.

Editors and reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and should decline participation where such conflicts could compromise, or reasonably appear to compromise, their impartiality.

Conflicts of interest do not necessarily constitute misconduct. However, undisclosed conflicts that materially affect the integrity or transparency of the publication process may require editorial action.

The journal may request clarification or additional disclosure where a potential conflict becomes apparent during peer review or after publication.

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Fundamental Errors in Published Works

Authors have an ongoing responsibility to maintain the accuracy and integrity of their published work. If an author discovers a significant error or inaccuracy in a published article, the author should promptly contact the journal and provide sufficient information to allow the matter to be assessed.

Depending on the nature and significance of the error, the journal may publish a correction, clarification, expression of concern, retraction, or other appropriate notice.

The journal may also initiate a post-publication review when a significant error is identified by editors, readers, reviewers, institutions, or other reliable sources.

The purpose of post-publication correction is to preserve the integrity, accuracy, and reliability of the scholarly record.

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Complaints and Appeals

PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) provides mechanisms for authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to raise legitimate concerns regarding editorial decisions, publication procedures, research integrity, publication ethics, or published content.

Complaints and appeals should be submitted through the journal's official communication channels and should provide sufficient information to explain the concern, including relevant manuscript or article information and supporting evidence where available.

Editorial appeals are considered fairly and independently. The journal may request clarification from the relevant editor, reviewer, author, or other party where necessary.

Where a complaint concerns research or publication misconduct, the journal may conduct an initial assessment and, where appropriate, refer the matter to the relevant institution or competent authority.

The journal will make reasonable efforts to ensure that complaints and appeals are handled confidentially, objectively, and without retaliation against individuals who raise legitimate concerns in good faith.

Where appropriate, decisions may be reviewed by an editor who was not directly involved in the original decision or by another qualified member of the editorial team.

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Intellectual Property

Authors are responsible for ensuring that manuscripts submitted to PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) respect applicable intellectual property and copyright requirements.

Authors must obtain appropriate permission when reproducing copyrighted materials, including figures, tables, images, substantial quotations, or other protected materials where permission is required.

Authors must properly acknowledge the original source of materials used in their manuscripts.

The journal respects the intellectual property rights of authors and third parties and expects all participants in the publication process to act consistently with applicable copyright and intellectual property principles.

Additional information concerning copyright and publication rights is provided through the journal's Copyright Notice.

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Post-Publication Discussions and Corrections

PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) recognizes that scholarly discussion may continue after publication. Readers and researchers may identify errors, raise methodological concerns, provide additional evidence, or otherwise contribute to the continuing evaluation of published research.

The journal welcomes legitimate scholarly communication concerning published articles. Where a concern is supported by credible evidence, the journal will assess the matter and determine whether editorial action is necessary.

Post-publication actions may include publication of a correction, clarification, editorial note, expression of concern, retraction, removal, or replacement, depending on the nature and seriousness of the issue.

Any correction or other post-publication notice should clearly identify the affected article and explain the nature of the change or concern so that readers can understand the history of the scholarly record.

The journal aims to preserve the original scholarly record wherever possible while ensuring that significant errors or integrity concerns are clearly identified.

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Corrections and Retractions

The journal may publish corrections or retract articles when necessary to maintain the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record.

Correction may be issued when a published article contains an error that does not invalidate the overall scholarly findings but requires formal correction.

Retraction may be considered when an article is found to contain substantial problems affecting its reliability or integrity, including serious research misconduct, fabricated or falsified data, plagiarism, duplicate publication, major undisclosed conflicts of interest, or other circumstances that materially compromise the scholarly record.

Expression of Concern may be issued where there is a credible and significant concern regarding a published article but the available evidence is insufficient to justify immediate correction or retraction, or where an investigation is ongoing.

Article Withdrawal may occur before formal publication where a manuscript needs to be withdrawn from the editorial process or publication workflow for legitimate reasons.

Article Removal is reserved for exceptional circumstances where continued public availability of an article creates serious legal, ethical, or other substantial risks that cannot reasonably be addressed through correction or retraction alone.

Article Replacement may be considered in exceptional cases where an article requires substantial correction and a replacement version is necessary to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record while maintaining a clear record of the original publication and its correction history.

All correction and retraction decisions will be made carefully and proportionately, taking into account the available evidence, the seriousness of the issue, the reliability of the published findings, and applicable publication ethics guidance, including relevant COPE recommendations.

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Institutional Support and Editorial Independence

PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) is managed and published by the Postgraduate Program Doctoral in Law, Universitas Pattimura, Indonesia, which provides institutional support for the operation, sustainability, and continued development of the journal.

The publisher supports the journal's infrastructure, administrative continuity, and scholarly development but does not interfere with editorial decisions concerning the assessment, peer review, acceptance, rejection, correction, or retraction of manuscripts.

Editorial decisions are made independently by the editorial team based on scholarly quality, originality, relevance to the journal's Focus and Scope, peer-review assessments, publication ethics, and the overall contribution of the work to legal scholarship.

The journal seeks to maintain a clear separation between institutional or administrative support and editorial decision-making. This principle is intended to protect the integrity, credibility, transparency, and independence of the journal's scholarly publishing process.

The journal's editorial policies, management structure, and publication ethics principles are publicly disclosed to promote accountability and confidence among authors, reviewers, readers, and the wider scholarly community.

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PATTIMURA Legal Journal (PELA) is committed to continuously reviewing and improving its publication ethics practices in response to developments in scholarly publishing, research integrity, legal scholarship, and internationally recognized publication ethics standards.

Any ethical matter not expressly addressed in this policy will be considered in accordance with applicable scholarly publishing principles, relevant institutional requirements, and appropriate guidance from recognized publication ethics organizations, including COPE.

For matters concerning the journal's publication ethics, authors and other stakeholders may contact the journal through its official editorial communication channels.

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Dr. Jemmy Jefry Pietersz, S.H., MH
Editor-in-Chief
PATTIMURA Legal Journal