Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship and Contributorship Policy

The TMP Universal Journal of Law, Business, and Management (UJLBM) upholds ethical standards for authorship and contributorship to ensure accountability and transparency in scholarly publishing. This policy defines the criteria for authorship, contributorship, and the responsibilities of all contributors involved in the research and publication process.

Authorship Criteria

To qualify as an author, individuals must meet all the following criteria:

  1. Substantial Contribution:
    • Contributed significantly to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the research.
  2. Drafting and Revising:
    • Participated in drafting the manuscript or critically revising it for important intellectual content.
  3. Approval of Final Version:
    • Reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before submission.
  4. Accountability:
    • Agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work and ensured that any questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

Note: Individuals who do not meet all four criteria should be acknowledged under “Contributions” but not listed as authors.

Contributor Roles

UJLBM recognizes various roles that contributors may play in a research project. These roles should be clearly defined, and credit must be appropriately assigned:

  1. Lead Author: Primarily responsible for the research, manuscript preparation, and submission.
  2. Co-authors: Contribute significantly to specific aspects of the study and share responsibility for the manuscript.
  3. Corresponding Author: Serves as the main point of contact between the journal and the author team. Responsible for communication during the submission, peer review, and publication processes.
  4. Non-author Contributors:
    • Individuals who provided technical assistance, funding, or editorial support but do not meet the authorship criteria should be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgments” section.

Changes in Authorship

  1. Addition or Removal of Authors:
    • Any changes to the author list after submission (e.g., addition or removal of authors) require:
      • Written consent from all authors, including the individual being added or removed.
      • A valid explanation for the change.
  2. Disputes:
    • Authorship disputes are referred to the corresponding author and, if unresolved, may involve the relevant institution(s).

Acknowledgment of Contributions

All individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged. This may include:

  • Technical support
  • Administrative assistance
  • Financial or material support

Responsibilities of Authors

  1. Originality and Integrity:
    • Ensure that the manuscript is original, free from plagiarism, and accurately represents the research findings.
  2. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest:
    • Authors must disclose any financial, professional, or personal interests that could influence the research or publication process.
  3. Compliance with Ethical Standards:
    • Adhere to the journal’s ethical guidelines and policies on research integrity and misconduct.
  4. Data Availability:
    • Provide access to raw data upon request to facilitate replication or further research.

Misrepresentation of Authorship

The following are considered unethical and are grounds for rejection or retraction of the manuscript:

  • Ghost Authorship: Excluding individuals who made significant contributions.
  • Gift Authorship: Including individuals who did not contribute significantly.
  • Plagiarism: Claiming authorship for work not originally created by the authors.

Ethical Standards

UJLBM follows the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to ensure fair and ethical practices in authorship and contributorship.

Contact Information

For questions or concerns about authorship and contributorship, please contact:

  • Email: editorujlbm@gmail.com
  • Phone: +91-9303939928, +91-7000912835

UJLBM emphasizes the importance of transparency, collaboration, and ethical conduct in recognizing authorship and contributions to scholarly work.