Paper Mill Policy

DScholar Press International does not accept manuscripts produced, supplied, or manipulated by paper mills. This policy applies to all publications, including peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed books, scholarly monographs, edited volumes, conference proceedings, working papers, and research reports. The Press is committed to maintaining the integrity, authenticity, and credibility of scholarly publishing by preventing the publication of fabricated or fraudulently produced research.

A paper mill is an individual, organization, or commercial entity that produces, sells, or brokers manuscripts, authorship, research data, images, peer review services, citations, or other publication-related materials for financial or other personal gain. Paper mill activities include the sale of fabricated research, ghostwritten manuscripts, purchased authorship, manipulated data, falsified images, fake peer review, and coordinated publication fraud.

Authors must submit only manuscripts that genuinely represent their own scholarly work. All listed authors must have made substantial intellectual contributions to the research and manuscript preparation and must accept responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the published work. The purchase or sale of authorship, manuscripts, research data, or publication services that compromise academic integrity is strictly prohibited.

The editorial office may examine submitted manuscripts for indicators of paper mill activity. These indicators may include inconsistencies in authorship, fabricated affiliations, manipulated images, fabricated or falsified data, template-based writing, inappropriate citations, suspicious similarities across unrelated manuscripts, falsified peer reviewer information, or other patterns that raise concerns regarding the authenticity of the submission.

Where paper mill involvement is suspected, the editorial process may be suspended while the matter is investigated. Authors may be required to provide original research data, ethics approval documents, study protocols, laboratory records, raw images, authorship contribution statements, funding information, institutional confirmation, or other supporting documentation. Independent experts or the authors' institutions may be consulted where necessary.

If evidence indicates that a manuscript has been produced, supplied, or manipulated by a paper mill, the manuscript will be rejected. If paper mill involvement is identified after publication, the Press may issue a correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other appropriate editorial action. The Press may also notify the authors' institutions, funding organizations, employers, regulatory authorities, or other relevant bodies where appropriate.

Authors found to have knowingly participated in paper mill activities, purchased authorship, fabricated research, or any related publication fraud may be prohibited from submitting future manuscripts to DScholar Press International. Editors, reviewers, and editorial board members are also expected to report any suspected paper mill activity encountered during the editorial process.

DScholar Press International periodically reviews its editorial procedures to identify emerging forms of publication fraud and strengthen safeguards against paper mill activity. The Press is committed to protecting the integrity of the scholarly record by ensuring that every published work represents authentic, transparent, and accountable scholarly research.

Effective date: 25 June 2026
Last updated date: 25 June 2026