Some journals use the term conflicts of interests while the others use competing interests. Those two look similar in concept (even synonym at journals) but I doubt that. I found an answer regarding web contracts and law at http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090817213858AAGQso3 but I'm still looking for a comprehensive clarification of why the journals use different statements and even then I'm not sure if the author understands such terms while they write "none to be declared".
Reflecting on your question I figure that when you are directly involved within and with an organization and you have or will use information that will benefit you or your organization then we say that this situation becomes a conflict of interest. Especially when this conflict of interest bring a benefit beyond the established marginal limits. In a public and probably private predicament, a person or an organization could easily step into probable considered risk between his or her or the organizations interest and to some extend affect everyone involved due to competing interest. Personally I think that both terms reflect self-interest motives.
(Just a thought)
As journals use the one phrase OR the other, not both, it seems that they're basically after the same information, but have just phrased it a little differently.
However, if I was a journal editor, I'd definitely use "conflict of interest" as "conflict" is a broader term than "competition", so that "conflict of interest" covers more situations of bias. If you're e.g. publishing a paper showing the benefits of a product produced by your family, you have a conflict of interest (nepotism), but not really a competing interest.
You are right that many people do not properly define the terms and are often using them as synonyms which stems from their poor use of language (e.g. in this case the distinction is not perfectly well explained: http://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-authors/forms-policies-and-checklists/declaration-competing-interests).
From what I've read, if one is to use terminology in a proper and clear language, there is a distinction: competing interests of a physician/author (several interests which compete: primary - e.g. patients' well-being, and secondary interests- e.g. financial gains, confidentiality) may potentially but not necessarily lead to a conflict of interests, and whether or not there is a conflict of interests depends on the authority (editors) which takes the decision (we may hope that it is objective...as long as people may be objective).
If these terms are used interchangeably, then it is meant that one is being asked to declare a conflict of interests, i.e. to list all competing interests according to himself/herself. In this case one refers to the point of view of the author/physician who has competing interests, meaning that it is up to the author to clarify any - one's subjective decision - and therefore one should sign a declaration so that the authority which takes the final decision is warned of the probabilities of conflicts of interests.
I find these guidelines on potential research COI to be relatively well explained: http://www.icmje.org/ethical_4conflicts.html
It is an interesting question and I really appreciate the discussion. kindly tell me if I have modified an appliance patented by someone or any flowchart or table devised by someone and used it in my study, and have given due reference in the manuscript, does it fall in the category of conflict of interest.
Also , kindly upload the soft copy of the link as I am unable to open the link given http://www.icmje.org/ethical_4conflicts.html.
Dear Priyanka
I think your query will more fit in publication ethics category. To use major piece of a copyrighted work (table, figure, etc.) you need official permission from the copyright owner and citation/referencing. But it if is open access (Creative Commons License) then citation/referencing alone is enough;
Answer for Competing interests
I have found a valid information on competing interests and conflict of interest
http://www.bmj.com/about-bmj/resources-authors/forms-policies-and-checklists/declaration-competing-interests
Hope the above link will be useful.
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