This is first of all a question about publishing ethics. An other problem may be that you are neither satisfied with the manuscript or the journal that is selected.
Scientific journals should request written and signed authorization of each author prior to publication
You have the right to alert the journal editors that you did not approve of the manuscript prior to its submission. The editor should then attempt to reconcile the problem. However, you should also consider the political implications of your actions, since fairly, or unfairly, they may have a lasting impact on your career.
There are usually (at least!) two sides to every publication dispute, but it is difficult to justify inclusion of authors without their knowledge or consent. Many but not all journals require a statement that all authors have read and approved the manuscript, and this is best practice regardless of journal policy. If you don't want to be on a paper, ask the corresponding author to be removed. At any stage of the publication process, there is a way to remove authors, up to and including a formal correction post-publication. If your request is denied, go to another authority: the journal or someone at your university. Bear in mind that this will very likely negatively affect your relationship with your co-author(s), so it's important to handle things professionally even if hard feelings are involved. I was once in a similar position (NOT with anyone in my current workplace, though, and pre-publication, so less complicated) and asked to be removed from a manuscript because I felt a necessary control had not been done. The PI agreed to remove me, and while I do not regret my decision, I wonder whether I could have found a better resolution. As a closing remark, and hopefully this does not affect your case, if an authorship dispute involves more than minor disagreements (i.e., misconduct issues), many universities have "research integrity" officers who can help with resolution.
Before doing what Carl wrote you better first talk to the corresponding author of the article and try to find out what happend.
Yes, I agree with Christian. I simply wanted to inform you of your rights. However, that is a worst case scenario. The more amicably you can resolve this with your coauthors the better this will turn out for you. You should discuss your concerns first with the senior author before dealing with the editor.
I agree with Carl that is a worst senario but uyou can solve the problem with negotiation or you cancel the publishing process by writing a letter to editor.
I agree with all my colleagues. The question and answers above are clear but the reason for dispute has not been addressed. You must address: 1. What is your contribution to the publication? 2. Do you agree with the content (methods, results & discussion) of the publication? 3. Do you agree with the conclusions of the publication? Knowing this information would assist you and the journal editor in establishing an action plan. Have you contributed to this publication in a fashion to be deemed an author? Is this an author position dispute?
The journal and the manuscript satisfactions are not the main problem. The ethic and the loyality are the main problem. Never the less of the conditions, such type of behavior is a serious crime!
I think now a days most of the submission systems like ScholarOne have the procedure of email submission of all co authors! which minimizes this conflict! However what to do after you get know is a complicated problem. If its me I will simply say Thanks to the corresponding author and tell him to consult with me in the future before sending!
This should be ideally brought to the notice of the editor of the journal. The editor will now be bound technically and ethically to inquire about it from the corresponding author. A research paper can not be published with out the consent of all the authors. Generally it is presumed that the corresponding author has communicated the paper after the other authors have gone through the manuscript and that there is no conflict of interest. Still if some thing otherwise is brought to the notice of editor he should act in accordance with the policy and the practices of the journal.
To avoid such situations, I think that the authors, the order of names, the preference of journals to which the manuscript has to be sent, all these should be discussed and agreed upon in the beginning. IT is much easier than trying to clear up the mess later on. Best of luck if you are in a situation.
You should intimately contact the editorial office to let them know - Most journals have as a condition that all authors should agree on the submission. I work for Journal of Avian Biology and we would return any such manuscript to the main author and ask him/her to resubmit it once all authors agree on it... This is one of the reasons why we always send out the confirmation email to all authors, asking them to let us know if they dont agree on the submission.
If we work closely together, it's OK. If the main idea of the research are from my collaborators, they are entitled to. I am sure we have the same purpose to publish it in a sound Journal. My practice is to send to everybody for comment before submitting. I would avoid those who do not let me see the manuscript before submitting in my future work.
I think this is directly related to ethics of authorship and may only arise if such rules are breached. the breach may have started at any early stage of manuscript writing and coauthors are included without a real contribution to plan, design or writing up of the manuscript that make the prinicpal author not count on such coauthors on the final editing, approval or submission of manuscript.
To avoid being insuch embassing scenario make sure you name will only appear on a manuscript that you, plan, design, contribute to the methods, interpretation of results, manuscript writing up and selection of destination journal platform.
Remember as publication may bring you fame, love, promotion..etc they can also defame you and destroy your reputation
@ Geir. Do inform us about the outcome of the whole thing. I am curious to know how the journal responds and how the whole issue is resolved.
Scientific journals should request written and signed authorization of each author prior to publication
To add one's name to a manuscript one has not seen is not ethical and should not be condoned. I will not only disown the publication but also write the journal's editor to complain.
I would try to discuss the thing with the corresponding author. If we cannot reach an agreement, I would ask to remove my name from the author list.
This is really problem in the scientific world. Although many journals seek signed declaration forms at the time of submission, fabrication of signature of somebody is anyhow possible and there is no option to scrutinize that. I think you are aware about the COPE guidelines of authorship and that's why you took that decision. This type of misconduct should be brought to light so that others can learn. It was very bad for you Geir and I have sympathy for you. Be cautious to choose collaborators in future.
It is very critical question. I think the journals should ask the corrsponders of manuscripts during the submission process the e mails of others authors. It will prevent of this un-ethical event.
This is unethical procedure because the manuscript was a research of a group and all scientific journals should request written and signed authorization of each author prior the publication. In this situation I write the journal's editor to complain.
The person who submitted the paper break ethical rules of science. You must as the corrosponding author for such type of work. Otherwise you must contact with editor of Journal.
Authors should respect ethical issues in article publishing, and journals can ask all authors to approve the manuscript separately.
You all have a point. However, it is always better to hear both sides of such a story. It sometimes happens that you try to team up with somebody who finally has nothing better to do than to block your work.
Dr. Schmelzer has a point as well. However, as far as someone is not doing his part of a research project, he should be excluded from any manuscript derived from that project. And of course he should not be entitled to be corresponding author of any manuscript deriving (directly or not) from that project.
In sometimes it is due to a mistake!! may be it is better to ask this person, why did you submit without our approval?
If it is known to me before the publication of the manuscript I would ask the corresponding author to send a copy of the manuscript. If every thing is fine I would not object, but if needed I would ask him/her to modify the the manuscript. Further if there is some thing serious in the manuscript I would prefer to inform the Editor. After all this practice is unethical.
Ask the person who did this with you if don't agree, simply write to lines to the editor where the paper is published for claim of authorship and give some proof or detail. as a rule the editor have to withdraw the manuscript until adjustment. If happens with me. I will handle it this way.
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