Related-Party Co-authorship Policy

The Journal of Multimedia Information System (JMIS) requires transparent and responsible authorship when a researcher conducts research with, or submits a manuscript co-authored by, a minor or family member. The purpose of this policy is to prevent honorary, guest, coerced, or otherwise inappropriate authorship and to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Definition

A related-party co-author includes a minor or a family member, including a spouse, child, or relative by blood or marriage within the fourth degree of kinship. For disclosure under this policy, a co-author under 18 years of age is treated as within scope unless a stricter applicable institutional or legal rule applies.

Disclosure at Submission

Before or at manuscript submission, the corresponding author must notify the Editorial Office that a related-party co-author is included. The manuscript and submission system must contain a Related-Party Co-authorship Disclosure, and the corresponding author must provide any additional information reasonably requested by the journal.

Authorship and Contributions

Every related-party co-author must independently satisfy the JMIS authorship criteria. The corresponding author must describe that author's specific intellectual and practical contributions. JMIS may request contribution records or other evidence and may reject or correct the authorship record if the stated contribution is not substantiated. A related-party relationship alone does not constitute research misconduct.

Consent and Privacy

When the submission includes a related-party co-author, the corresponding author must provide prior written consent for the Editorial Office to process the personal information required for editorial review. For a minor, consent from a parent or legally authorized representative must also be provided when required. JMIS will limit access to this information and will not publish unnecessary personal information.

Editorial Review and Conflicts of Interest

The editor may conduct additional authorship or contribution checks and may seek advice from the journal's Research Ethics Committee. Editors and reviewers who have a relevant personal, family, academic, or financial relationship must disclose the conflict and recuse themselves when appropriate.

Confirmed Misconduct and Notification

If misconduct involving related-party co-authorship is confirmed after a fair investigation and an opportunity for the authors to respond, the Research Ethics Committee will determine appropriate measures. Where legally and procedurally appropriate, JMIS will notify an institution that granted or may grant a benefit based on the article, including a school, admissions body, or research institution, and may correct or retract the article.

Suggested Disclosure

Not applicable. The authors declare that no related-party co-author is included in this article.
OR
A related-party co-author is included and has been disclosed to the Editorial Office. The co-author's contribution was [describe contribution].

Contact

Questions regarding this policy should be directed to the Editorial Office at jmis@kmms.or.kr.

Adopted on September 15, 2026