The Andalas Law Journal is committed to transparency and integrity in all aspects of the publication process. To maintain trust in the scientific process and the credibility of published articles, it is essential that all parties involved in the publication process disclose any potential conflicts of interest or competing interests. This policy aligns with the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). For further information, please refer to COPE’s resources.

Definition of Conflicts of Interest / Competing Interests

A conflict of interest or competing interest occurs when an individual’s personal, financial, or professional affiliations could influence their actions, judgments, or decisions concerning the publication process. This can include:

• Financial interests: Employment, funding, stock ownership, paid expert testimony, or any other financial benefit that could be gained from the research outcomes.
• Personal relationships: Relationships with others involved in the research or publication process, such as family members, close friends, or collaborators.
• Academic commitments: Situations where academic competition, rivalry, or collaborative relationships could affect impartial judgment.
• Intellectual property: Ownership or application for patents related to the submitted work.

Disclosure by Authors

Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest or competing interests that could be perceived as influencing the research or its interpretation. This disclosure should be included at the time of manuscript submission. If no conflicts exist, authors should include a statement such as "The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

Disclosures should be detailed in a dedicated section within the manuscript and should cover:

• Financial interests (e.g., funding sources, stock ownership, paid consultancy).
• Non-financial interests (e.g., personal relationships, academic competition).
• Any other affiliations or activities that could be perceived as a conflict.

Disclosure by Reviewers

Reviewers must disclose any conflicts of interest or competing interests that could influence their manuscript review. If a reviewer identifies a conflict of interest, they should recuse themselves from the review process, and the editorial office will assign the manuscript to another reviewer.

Examples of potential conflicts for reviewers include:

• Personal or professional relationships with the authors.
• Financial interests related to the research outcomes.
• Direct competition with the authors or their research.

Reviewers should also disclose if they have any current collaborations with the authors or if they have reviewed or provided feedback on the manuscript before submission.

Disclosure by Editors

Editors involved in the decision-making process for a manuscript must also disclose any potential conflicts of interest or competing interests. If an editor has a conflict of interest, they must recuse themselves from the editorial handling of the manuscript, and the responsibility will be transferred to another qualified editor.

Examples of conflicts for editors include:

• Personal or professional relationships with the authors.
• Financial interests related to the research.
• Previous or ongoing collaborations with the authors.

Managing Conflicts of Interest

The Andalas Law Journal will take appropriate action to manage and address conflicts of interest. This may include:

• Public disclosure of conflicts of interest in the published article.
• Assigning alternative reviewers or editors to handle the manuscript.
• Providing authors, reviewers, or editors with guidance on how to manage conflicts.

If a conflict of interest is discovered after publication, the journal will issue a correction or retraction to address the issue.

Transparency and Accountability

The Andalas Law Journal is committed to transparency and will ensure that all disclosed conflicts of interest are handled appropriately to maintain the integrity of the publication process. The editorial board will review all disclosures, and actions will be taken to mitigate any potential bias.

For more information on managing conflicts of interest, please refer to the COPE website.