Conflict of Interest Policy for Authors

Conflict of Interest Policy for Authors of Advanced Information Technology

1. Introduction

The Editorial Board of Advanced Information Technology is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity and publication ethics. A vital component of this process is transparency regarding any potential conflicts of interest among authors/co-authors of scientific papers that may influence, or be perceived to influence, the objectivity of the research and its results. This policy is developed in accordance with international standards, particularly the recommendations of the European Association of Science Editors (EASE).

2. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when an author (or the institution employing the author), a reviewer, or an editor has financial or personal relationships that may negatively affect (create bias in) their actions regarding the preparation, peer review, or publication of a manuscript.

A potential conflict of interest may exist regardless of whether the individual believes these relationships influence their scientific judgment. Trust in the scientific process and the credibility of published articles depend, in part, on how transparently conflicts of interest are addressed during the planning, implementation, writing, peer review, and publication of scientific papers.

Conflicts of interest may be:

Financial: Direct or indirect financial relationships, such as:

Employment or consulting for organizations that may benefit (or suffer) from the publication of the research paper.
Ownership of stocks, options, or shares in entities whose activities are related to the research topic.
Receipt of honoraria, grants, or payment for expert opinions or lectures from organizations interested in the research results.
Patents (granted or pending) related to the research.
Receipt of research funding from a commercial organization.

Non-financial (Personal): Relationships that are not of a direct financial nature but may affect objectivity, such as:

Personal relationships (family ties, close friendship) with individuals or organizations associated with the research topic.
Academic competition or strong scientific convictions that may bias the interpretation of data.
Membership in boards, advisory committees, or governing bodies of organizations interested in the subject of the manuscript.
Institutional affiliations or obligations that may influence objectivity.

3. Authors' Responsibilities

Disclosure: All authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could be viewed as a potential conflict of interest regarding the submitted manuscript. This applies to interests that arose within the last 36 months from the date of initial submission to the journal and have a direct or indirect bearing on the work presented.
Timing of Disclosure: The Conflict of Interest Statement must be provided to the editors of Advanced Information Technology at the time of manuscript submission.
Completeness: Authors bear full responsibility for the complete and accurate disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. If there is any doubt about whether certain relationships or interests should be declared, it is recommended to disclose them in the appropriate section of the manuscript.
Absence of Conflict: If the authors have no conflicts of interest, they must clearly state this.

4. Declaration Mechanism

Authors must include a separate section titled "Declaration of Conflict of Interest" (or equivalent) in the manuscript, located before the list of references.
This section must list all potential conflicts of interest for each author or state their absence.
- Example of a declaration of presence: "Author A received a grant from Company X. Author B is a consultant for Company Y. Author C has no conflict of interest."
- Example of a declaration of absence: "The authors declare no conflict of interest."
The journal’s editorial office may also require the completion of an additional conflict of interest disclosure form upon submission.

5. Role of the Editorial Board

The Editorial Board of Advanced Information Technology reviews conflict of interest statements during manuscript evaluation.
The existence of a conflict of interest is not, in itself, grounds for refusal to publish; however, failure to disclose it may be.
The editorial office maintains the confidentiality of conflict of interest information during the peer-review process but reserves the right to publish the authors' statement alongside the article to ensure transparency.
Editors and reviewers are also required to declare their own conflicts of interest and recuse themselves from the review of manuscripts in such cases.

6. Consequences of Non-Disclosure and Settlement of Disputes between Authors

If a potential conflict of interest was not disclosed by the authors at the time of submission and becomes known to the editorial office subsequently (before or after publication), the editors of Advanced Information Technology will conduct an investigation in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Depending on the circumstances and the severity of the situation, this may lead to:

Rejection of the manuscript (if unpublished).
Publication of a corrigendum or an expression of concern.
Retraction of the published article.

In the event of a dispute or conflict of interest between co-authors regarding the content, authorship, order of authorship, contributions, or other aspects at any stage of manuscript review (until the moment of actual publication), the editors of Advanced Information Technology reserve the right to suspend further review and the preparation process.

In such a case, the review and preparation for publication will resume only after the editorial office receives an official written notice signed by all co-authors, confirming the successful resolution of the dispute. The notice must specify the method and terms of such settlement. The editorial office reserves the right to request additional confirmation of the agreement reached.

The Editorial Board of Advanced Information Technology relies on the cooperation of authors in adhering to this policy to uphold high standards of scientific publishing and ethical norms.