The journal Animal Biology adheres to the principles of confidentiality at all stages of the editorial process. All manuscripts, accompanying documents, editorial correspondence, reviews, personal data of authors, reviewers and editors, as well as materials obtained during the consideration of an article, are treated as confidential information.
The Editorial Office uses the information submitted by authors exclusively for the purposes of editorial evaluation, peer review, preparation for publication, indexing, and scholarly communication within the journal’s activities. Authors’ personal data are not transferred to third parties, except where necessary to ensure the editorial process, comply with legal requirements, or support the technical functioning of the journal.
Confidentiality of Manuscripts
All manuscripts submitted to the journal are treated as confidential documents. Their content must not be disclosed to persons who are not directly involved in editorial evaluation and peer review. Editors, members of the Editorial Board, and Editorial Office staff may not use information, ideas, data, interpretations, or conclusions contained in an unpublished manuscript for their own benefit or disclose them to other persons without the written consent of the author.
Confidentiality in the Peer Review Process
Reviewers are required to maintain full confidentiality regarding manuscripts received for evaluation. They must not discuss the content of the manuscript with other persons, copy it, share it with third parties, or use unpublished materials in their own scientific, professional, or other activities. If a reviewer is unable to prepare a review or has a conflict of interest, they must immediately inform the Editorial Office and cease working with the manuscript materials.
Authors must also treat communication with the journal as confidential. This includes editorial correspondence, editors’ comments, review reports, and other materials received during manuscript consideration, unless the Editorial Office has granted separate permission for their disclosure.
Confidentiality of Editorial Decisions and Internal Procedures
Editorial conclusions, reviews, internal comments, correspondence between the Editorial Office and reviewers, as well as materials related to the internal consideration of ethical issues, must not be publicly disclosed, except in cases expressly provided for by the journal’s editorial policy or international standards of publication ethics. When considering complaints, appeals, or issues related to possible violations of research ethics, the Editorial Office ensures an appropriate level of confidentiality and restricted access to the relevant materials.
Protection Against Unauthorized Use of Materials
Unpublished manuscripts, research data, reviews, and editorial materials may not be used for personal benefit, scientific priority, competitive advantage, or any other improper purpose. Any breach of confidentiality is regarded by the Editorial Office as a serious violation of publication ethics and may constitute grounds for terminating manuscript consideration, refusing further cooperation with the reviewer, or initiating other ethical procedures in accordance with COPE recommendations.
