Article Withdrawing Policy

International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB)
P-ISSN: 3117-5937 | E-ISSN: 3117-5945

The International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and follows internationally accepted guidelines, including best practices recommended by global publishing bodies such as COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics).

The journal ensures the integrity, transparency, and permanence of the scholarly record. All editorial decisions are made by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board based on peer review, ethical compliance, and academic merit.

Once published, articles constitute part of the permanent scientific archive and should remain accessible. However, in exceptional circumstances, articles may be withdrawn, retracted, removed, or replaced to maintain the integrity of the academic record.

1. Article Withdrawal Policy

Article withdrawal applies to manuscripts that are accepted or published online as “Articles in Press” but not yet assigned to a formal issue.

Grounds for Withdrawal

An article may be withdrawn under the following circumstances:

  • Duplicate or accidental submission
  • Major errors identified prior to publication
  • Ethical violations such as plagiarism, multiple submissions, or false authorship
  • Data integrity concerns or methodological flaws detected during final checks

Procedure

  • The full text (PDF/HTML) will be removed from the journal platform
  • A withdrawal notice will replace the article
  • The reason for withdrawal will be clearly stated to maintain transparency
  • The withdrawal will be permanently recorded in the journal archive

2. Article Retraction Policy

Retraction is issued for published articles when significant ethical or scientific issues are identified post-publication.

Grounds for Retraction

  • Plagiarism or substantial overlap with existing publications
  • Redundant or duplicate publication
  • Fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of data
  • Unethical research practices
  • Authorship disputes or false claims
  • Critical errors that invalidate research findings

Procedure

  • A formal notice titled “Retraction: [Article Title]” will be published
  • The notice will specify the reason for retraction
  • The original article will remain accessible but will be clearly marked as “Retracted”
  • A link between the retracted article and the retraction notice will be maintained

3. Article Removal Policy (Legal Grounds)

Article removal is considered only in rare and exceptional cases where legal obligations apply.

Grounds for Removal

  • Defamatory, unlawful, or legally sensitive content
  • Copyright infringement
  • Court orders or legal directives
  • Content posing significant public health or safety risks

Procedure

  • The article content will be removed from the database
  • Bibliographic details (title, authors, metadata) will remain visible
  • A removal notice will be displayed explaining the reason

4. Article Replacement Policy

If a published article contains serious errors that may mislead readers or affect scientific outcomes, a corrected version may be issued.

Procedure

  • The original article will be retracted
  • A revised and corrected version may be republished
  • Clear cross-referencing between versions will be provided
  • Transparency in correction history will be maintained

5. Preservation of the Scholarly Record

IJMMB ensures that all editorial actions—withdrawal, retraction, removal, or replacement—are clearly documented. This guarantees transparency, accountability, and trust in the scientific publication process.

All decisions are taken by the Editorial Board following ethical guidelines and international publishing standards.

6. Article Processing Charges (APC) Policy

APC is non-refundable under any circumstances once the article is published.