RG does not actually publish papers, it is just a platform to circulate both published and unpublished works. It is still fine to go ahead and publish such paper in a journal desired. The only reason why I feel uploading unpublished paper might not really be a thing for me even though RG encourages is, is that some else might go and publish your work behind you and once that is done, you don't have a claim to such work again. The one that publishes the work first owns the work. I stand to be corrected anyway.

No, not at all. I utterly agree with Dr. Jumoke Soyemi if the work is unpublished before uploading on this platform (RG), it remained unpublished. You can go ahead to publish the work regardless of sharing it on RG.

Thank you

Olutosin

Thanks Jummy and Olutosin, I appreciatee your attempts to resolve this puzzle.for me.and.I also feel the point about.the possibility of someone else.using your unpublished work or a part.thereof is a.high risk because the work has been exposed but.not yet published.

Dr Bankole, your added perspective takes me miles down the road, thanks for the illumination.

These are highly instructive comments.

I commend and appreciate everyone who has offered their comments here, it has shown what is the norm and what is the path of discretion.

I want to defer a bit from Dr. Bankole's submission. It is actually a plus when you post unpublished works. If such work is stolen by someone who later publish it, then you can contest its originality based on the date you posted your unpublished work.

In line with research integrity, someone can actually be pinned down for publishing unpublished work of another author without authorisation.

If you later send your work to a publishing house [most of them are on RG and Thomson Reuters], even if it flags similarities, it will show that it is your work and unpublished before.

This is the definition of Plagiarism from Wiley Publishing House, 'Plagiarism is defined as the unreferenced use of another's published or unpublished ideas.'. https://authorservices.wiley.com/editors/editorial-office-guidelines/plagiarism-and-libel.html. This web page gives additional information about Plagiarism

Things are changing. Under Research Integrity, you cannot publish the unpublished work of another author has yours. IN fact, the platform RG created for unpublished works, is to the benefit of the authors concerned

Dr Bankole, your point hits home and you have laid bare all the risk and status factors; I think we have found your answers to the dynamics of the issues here.