Somewhere May 2018, we (co-authors) submitted a manuscript for review and publication in a reputable journal (1). This was the very first time the paper got out of our hands. We got really hash feedback and comments from reviewers - asking for a major revision. We took the pain to revise and re-submitted only to receive a rejection.
Six (6) months later we found on researchgate (here) that a publication had cited a colleague of ours. We were drawn closer to read, only to find out that this was our own paper published in another journal (2) under someone else's name.
About 98% is copied - including the title and all the references. However, all our figures supporting the discussion where deleted. We have all evidence available (from proposal level, data analysis, and proofs of submission).
After the rejection, we revised and submitted the manuscript for review and publication in another reputable journal (3). Even though we have reported the matter to both journals and currently under investigation by their legal team (as one of the journals informed upon our follow-ups), we have never been contacted for more evidence or further questions. The process also seem to be delaying as the manuscript is currently under consideration by another journal (3).
What should we do next? Please, we need your council.
Peter: It may be worth also tracking the person and reporting to their institution if the journal is slow in responding. This is quite unfortunate and whoever did it must pay one way or another.
Dr. Ellis Adjei: thanks for your concern. In the case of reporting to the person's institution, may I know how the institution be helpful?
Well, it is a classic case of research misconduct and institutions that take it seriously have offices that deal with it. I am not sure what institution the person is at, but any serious institution will not take lightly that someone there plagiarizes another person work and publishes it under their name
Number one, you should contact the editor of the Journal with a strong proof of your claims. I believe you have a copy of the published work and the manuscript reference number of your rejected work. Please, make sure you establish your case very well even before contacting the author(s) of the said article so that you wont be the one to be sued for wrongful accusation. I feel your pain.
Thank you, Ayodeji Iyanda.
Almost ten weeks and counting. Still awaiting a decision and/or findings from the journals and investigation team of the publisher.
Yay! Almost four months after officially reporting our plagiarized paper submitted for peer-review, we are happy to inform you that a decision has finally been made after investigation by the publisher. A decision has been taken to retract the stolen paper which was plagiarized and published by Karem Sayed Aboelazm of Cairo University (see his profile @ Karem Aboelazm
).Find the full details of this case in the attached file. Thanks!!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Linguistics
- Philology
- Classical Philology
- Manuscripts