Corrections & Retractions
Applies to the ESS Press book line: books, monographs, chapters, and conference proceedings. Journal articles follow the rules of the respective journals on their websites. We support the currency and integrity of the scholarly record, guided by a Crossmark-style approach and the principle of transparency.
1) Principles and scope
1.1. The purpose is to preserve the reliability of the published Version of Record (VoR) by providing readers with clear, unambiguous signals about any changes.
1.2. Decisions on updates are made by the editorial office based on verified facts, proportionality of the measure, and a documented process (see §4).
1.3. This policy covers: corrections (erratum/corrigendum/addendum), expressions of concern, retractions, and—exceptionally—withdrawals prior to publication.
2) Terms and types of notices
- Erratum — correction of an error introduced by the publisher (e.g., layout issue, figure caption error, typographical error in a formula).
- Corrigendum — correction of an author error that does not change the main conclusions (e.g., inaccuracy in figures/units).
- Addendum — addition of an important clarification/data without changing the main text (e.g., methodological clarification, a data identifier discovered after publication).
- Expression of Concern — a temporary notice indicating serious concerns while an investigation is ongoing.
- Retraction — withdrawal of a publication (chapter/book/contribution in a volume) due to a confirmed serious breach (plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, major methodological errors undermining validity).
- Republication — re-publication of a corrected VoR in exceptional technical cases (e.g., substantial content loss), accompanied by a prominent notice and version linking.
- Withdrawal (pre-publication) — removal of a manuscript from the process prior to VoR publication (e.g., confirmed duplication or ethical/legal issues).
3) Principles for applying measures
3.1. Proportionality: issue a correction if conclusions remain valid; retract only when reliability is undermined.
3.2. Traceability: each measure is issued as a separate public document with a date, reasons, and links.
3.3. Accessibility: the original VoR is not removed; it is clearly labeled. The PDF is marked with a watermark/header (“Retracted”, “Corrected”).
3.4. Identifiers: corrections/retractions receive their own DOIs and bi-directional links to the original publication.
4) Procedure
4.1. Trigger: notification by an author/reader/reviewer/editor, or post-publication audit findings.
4.2. Initial assessment (≤10 business days): case registration, fact gathering, and—where needed—requesting an author explanation.
4.3. Investigation (time varies by complexity): involvement of independent experts where methodological issues require it.
4.4. Decision and measure: selection of the appropriate notice type (see §2) with a reasoned justification; notice text is coordinated with the authors where parties act in good faith.
4.5. Publication of the notice and metadata updates: on the publication website, via DOI relations, and by notifying indexing/archiving services.
4.6. Communication: written notifications to author(s), complainant, and relevant parties; for proceedings—volume editor/conference organizer.
5) Content of notices
Each notice includes:
(a) full bibliographic details of the affected work;
(b) a clear title naming the notice type;
(c) a concise, accurate, and neutral description of the issue;
(d) responsible party (publisher/authors), date, and the notice DOI;
(e) links to the original and (if applicable) corrected versions.
5.1. Template — Erratum/Corrigendum (example)
Title: Erratum: [Book/Chapter Title]
Text: “Errors were identified in the published version in [description]. The correction does not affect the main conclusions. Corrected HTML/PDF versions are available via the link. Notice DOI: …”
5.2. Template — Expression of Concern
“The Editorial Office informs readers of substantial questions regarding [aspects of the work]. An investigation is ongoing. Until completion, readers are advised to interpret the results with caution.”
5.3. Template — Retraction
“This publication has been retracted by the ESS Press Editorial Office with/without the agreement of the author(s) due to [confirmed plagiarism/fabrication/critical error]. The main conclusions are considered unreliable. The original version remains online and is clearly marked ‘Retracted’.”
6) Special provisions for conference proceedings
6.1. Retraction of an individual contribution does not affect other materials in the volume; the volume landing page includes a note identifying the retracted chapter.
6.2. The organizer is notified and, where necessary, posts corresponding information on the event page.
7) Metadata and notifications
7.1. Separate DOIs and relations are created for all measures, including: isVersionOf / isAmendmentTo / isRetractedBy.
7.2. Updates are made to the publication website, distribution platforms, archives, and indexing services (Crossref, etc.).
7.3. The publication landing page includes a visible “Publication Status” block (Corrected / Retracted / Expression of Concern).
8) Appeals and objections
Parties may submit a reasoned appeal regarding the notice text or the applied measure (see Complaints and Appeals). Appeals are reviewed by an independent editor/committee.
9) Confidentiality and protection of complainants
Good-faith reports are accepted, including anonymous submissions. The editorial office takes measures against retaliation. Abuse (bad-faith accusations) is addressed under the Publication Ethics Policy.
10) Contacts
Questions regarding updates and retractions: policies@ess.press