Why Ethics Matter for Scopus-Indexed Conferences
Scopus removes 300+ conferences annually for ethical violations. Protect your research reputation by understanding:
✅ COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) core principles
✅ Scopus’ 2025 ethics verification protocols
✅ Tools to detect predatory conferences
Top 5 Ethical Requirements for Scopus Conferences
1. Authorship Integrity
- Scopus’ 2025 Criteria:
- Substantial contributions to conceptualization/data analysis
- Approval of final manuscript version
- Disclosure of AI-assisted content (>15% requires declaration)
2. Plagiarism Controls
| Check Type | Acceptable Threshold | Tools |
|---|
| Text Similarity | ≤15% | iThenticate, Turnitin |
| Idea Duplication | 0% | Crossref Similarity Check |
| Self-Plagiarism | ≤10% | PlagScan |
3. Peer Review Compliance
- Mandatory Requirements:
- Double-blind review process
- Minimum 3 independent reviewers
- No author-editor conflicts of interest
4. Data Transparency
- Scopus Ethics Checklist:
- Raw data availability statement
- Funding source disclosure
- IRB approval documentation
5. Citation Ethics
- Prohibited Practices:
- Citation stuffing (>30% self-citations)
- "Courtesy citations" to editors/reviewers
- Falsified reference lists
How Scopus Detects Ethical Violations
Automated Screening System
- CrossCheck Engine: Scans 114M+ papers in real-time
- Author Identity Graph: Tracks suspicious collaboration patterns
- Citation Network Analysis: Flags artificial inflation attempts
Human Oversight
- 450+ ethics officers globally
- 72-hour violation reporting system
Step-by-Step Ethics Compliance Guide
Stage 1: Pre-Submission
- Use iConf.com’s Ethics Score Calculator
- Verify conference COPE membership via publicationethics.org
- Run plagiarism check with iThenticate (≤15% score)
Stage 2: Submission
- Complete Scopus Ethics Declaration Form
- Disclose ChatGPT/Gemini usage (if applicable)
- Upload signed Authorship Contribution Statement
Stage 3: Post-Publication
- Monitor paper via Scopus’ Ethical Tracking Dashboard
- Respond to queries within 14 days
- Report errors through Scopus Ethics Portal
Consequences of Ethical Violations
| Severity Level | Examples | Penalties |
|---|
| Minor | 16-20% plagiarism | Paper retraction + 1-year ban |
| Major | Fake peer review | Conference delisting + 3-year ban |
| Critical | Data fabrication | Lifetime Scopus ban + institutional alert |
Tools for Ethical Conference Selection
1. iConf.com Ethics Verifier
- Features:
- Predatory conference detector
- COPE compliance checker
- Historical violation tracker
2. Scopus Integrity Checker
- Free service for registered authors
- Compares submissions against 3 ethical criteria
3. COPE Audit Toolkit
- 150-point evaluation framework
- PDF report generation
Case Study: Rebuilding Trust After Ethics Violation
Situation:
- 2024 AI conference delisted for peer review manipulation
Recovery Process:
- Implemented blockchain-based review tracking
- Hired independent ethics auditor
- Published retractions for 22 compromised papers
Result:
- Scopus re-indexing approved in Q1 2025
- Submissions increased by 40% post-compliance
Future of Conference Ethics (2026-2030)
- AI Ethics Auditors: Automated COPE guideline enforcement
- NFT Certificates: Immutable proof of ethical compliance
- Global Ethics Score: Public ranking system for conferences
Start Your Ethical Submission Journey
Visit iConf.com/ethics-check to:
- Get free COPE compliance report
- Access Scopus ethics training modules
- Download 2025 Authorship Agreement Template
Expert Tip: Always verify a conference’s Scopus status using the official Scopus Sources page before submitting!
