Dear all, I have a question for the community. I sent a manuscript to a well known journal. After asking about the reason for a very long delay in the process, the Journal informed me that the first editor took a decision that did not agree with the journals polices. As he/she was asked about the reason for the decision, the editor aparently was not able to answer and retracted him/herself from the rewiewing process. This happend almost 4 months after submission. The journal apologized and started the process from new: looking for a new editor. The publication finally got accepted but almost 9 months after the submission. The thesis of a PhD student had some troubles because of the delay. I am currently trying to contact the journal for the disclusure of the first editor, so that we can list him/her as possibly conflicting reviewer in future submissions, but the Journal is ignoring my request. What are my rights here? I will apreciate if you guys can tell me if they are laws in the European Union that allow me to ask for that information even through the legal way. I would not like to get to that point! and I will keep trying to contact the journal, but I want to know what other alternatives are available. Thanks.
I think I have the right to know if someone has been blocking a publication. As Scientist we have to abide to certain rules of ethics. To know my rights as well as I know my responsabilities towards the scientific community is normal and therefore, I disagree that it is "too much".
Dear Luisa,
I fear you may not have such a right. I do neither know a German nor an EU law that ensures such disclosure...
In my experience you may have to live with that situation.
In law we know this situation: you have the moral right to get this information, but no legal right...
As an advice I would say: if that journal is of high importance to you, simply keep submitting your future papers. If not, choose an alternative...
I understand that a reviewer might wants to remain unknow, however an Editor is always disclosed. I am looking for the Editor of the failed first review process. I think by 'resigning' to " that is the way the system works" I will be contributing to the way a lot of unethical processes are being covered up. I thank you all for your kind words and your interest. I still hope that someone in this community will have a hint for similar situations and/or rulings.
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