Appeals & Complaints Policy
The International Journal of Information Technology and Computing (ITX Journal) is committed to maintaining fairness, transparency, integrity, and accountability in all editorial and publishing processes.
The journal recognizes the right of authors, reviewers, readers, and other stakeholders to submit appeals or complaints regarding editorial decisions, peer review procedures, ethical concerns, or publication practices.
All appeals and complaints are handled professionally, confidentially, and in accordance with international ethical publishing standards.
The journal follows recommendations established by:
- Committee on Publication Ethics
- Elsevier ethical publishing guidelines
- Springer Nature publication ethics standards
Scope of Appeals & Complaints
The policy applies to concerns related to:
- Editorial decisions
- Manuscript rejection
- Peer review quality
- Publication delays
- Ethical misconduct
- Authorship disputes
- Conflict of interest issues
- Plagiarism investigations
- Retraction decisions
- Editorial process concerns
Appeals Policy
Authors have the right to appeal editorial decisions if they believe:
- The review process was unfair
- Reviewer comments were inappropriate
- Important scientific aspects were misunderstood
- Ethical procedures were not followed properly
Appeals must be submitted respectfully and supported by clear scientific justification.
Appeal Submission Procedure
Appeals should include:
- Manuscript title
- Manuscript ID
- Detailed explanation of the appeal
- Point-by-point response to reviewer or editor comments
- Supporting scientific evidence where applicable
Appeals should be submitted through the journal’s official communication channels.
Appeal Evaluation Process
Upon receiving an appeal:
- The editorial office acknowledges receipt of the appeal.
- The Editor-in-Chief reviews the case independently.
- Additional reviewers or editorial board members may be consulted.
- The final decision is communicated to the author.
The appeal process is conducted confidentially and objectively.
Final Decision on Appeals
Following evaluation, the journal may decide to:
| Decision | Description |
|---|---|
| Uphold Original Decision | Original editorial decision remains unchanged |
| Reconsider Manuscript | Additional review or editorial evaluation |
| Request Revision | Further modifications required |
| Reverse Decision | Manuscript reconsidered for publication |
The final editorial decision after appeal is considered binding.
Complaints Policy
The journal welcomes complaints regarding:
- Editorial misconduct
- Unethical reviewer behavior
- Delays in publication
- Conflicts of interest
- Ethical policy violations
- Publication malpractice
- Technical publishing concerns
Complaints must be submitted professionally and with supporting information.
Handling of Complaints
All complaints are:
- Evaluated fairly
- Treated confidentially
- Investigated objectively
- Processed in a timely manner
The journal may request additional information or documentation during the investigation.
Ethical Complaints
Complaints involving ethical concerns such as:
- Plagiarism
- Data fabrication
- Duplicate publication
- Authorship disputes
- Peer review manipulation
are investigated according to international publication ethics procedures.
Confidentiality
The journal maintains confidentiality throughout all appeal and complaint investigations.
Information related to ongoing investigations is disclosed only to authorized individuals involved in the process.
Abuse of Appeals or Complaints
The journal does not tolerate:
- Harassment
- Offensive language
- False accusations
- Repeated baseless complaints
- Attempts to pressure editorial decisions
Abusive behavior may result in restricted communication or rejection of future submissions.
Conflict of Interest in Investigations
Editors or reviewers with conflicts of interest related to a complaint or appeal will not participate in the investigation or decision-making process.
Transparency & Fairness
The journal is committed to:
- Fair editorial practices
- Transparent procedures
- Objective investigations
- Ethical accountability
- Respectful communication
Retractions & Corrections
If an appeal or complaint identifies significant errors or ethical violations, the journal may issue:
- Corrections
- Editorial notices
- Expressions of concern
- Retractions
in accordance with the journal’s ethical policies.
Response Timeline
The journal aims to acknowledge appeals and complaints within a reasonable timeframe. Complex investigations may require additional review time depending on the nature of the case.
Contact Information
Appeals and complaints should be submitted to the editorial office through the official journal contact channels available on the journal website.
Commitment to Ethical Publishing
ITX Journal is dedicated to maintaining trust, transparency, and accountability in scholarly communication through fair and responsible management of appeals, complaints, and ethical concerns.
