{"id":56939,"date":"2025-11-25T13:16:21","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T07:16:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/?p=56939"},"modified":"2026-03-31T14:57:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T08:57:05","slug":"avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid Intellectual Property conflicts during the submission process"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A surprising proportion of submitted manuscripts trigger intellectual property (IP) concerns during journal screening: a case-study analysis of 400 consecutive submissions found unacceptable levels of plagiarized material in 17% of papers. At the same time, publishers and screening services are scanning millions of manuscripts annually. iThenticate now checks millions of documents each year as part of editorial workflows making early prevention essential.<\/p>\n<p>For researchers, IP conflicts (including plagiarism, undisclosed prior publication, improper use of third\u2011party material, and authorship disputes) can delay <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/peer-review-process\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"115\" title=\"Peer Review\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peer review<\/a>, lead to rejection, or result in retraction and reputational damage. This article explains what those conflicts are, when they typically arise, why they matter, and most important how you can avoid them at the submission stage. You will find a practical pre\u2011submission checklist, permission and licensing guidance, recommended tools and institutional actions, plus actionable tips for common mistakes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_74 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#What_intellectual_property_conflicts_mean\" >What intellectual property conflicts mean<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#Why_these_conflicts_occur\" >Why these conflicts occur<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#How_is_IP_during_submission_different_from_general_IP_concerns\" >How is IP during submission different from general IP concerns<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#Practical_steps_to_avoid_IP_conflicts\" >Practical steps to avoid IP conflicts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#Permissions_licensing_and_copyright_transfer_what_to_know\" >Permissions, licensing, and copyright transfer: what to know<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#Tools_institutional_resources_and_good_practices\" >Tools, institutional resources, and good practices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#Common_mistakes_and_how_to_fix_them\" >Common mistakes and how to fix them<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/avoid-ip-conflicts-journal-submission\/#Final_practical_checklist\" >Final practical checklist<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_intellectual_property_conflicts_mean\"><\/span>What intellectual property conflicts mean<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Intellectual property (IP) is the set of legal rights that protect creations of the mind for academic authors this mainly includes <em>copyright<\/em> in written text, figures, and datasets, and (in some contexts) patents and trade secrets.<\/li>\n<li>Common IP conflicts in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/submission-preparation.htm\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"123\" title=\"manuscript submission\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">manuscript submission<\/a> include:\n<ul>\n<li><em>Plagiarism<\/em> and <em>text recycling<\/em> (self\u2011plagiarism).<\/li>\n<li>Use of <em>third\u2011party copyrighted material<\/em> (figures, tables, long text excerpts) without permission.<\/li>\n<li><em>Undisclosed prior publication or dual submission<\/em>, including unclear preprint handling.<\/li>\n<li><em>Authorship disputes<\/em> and disagreements over contributorship or ownership of data.<\/li>\n<li><em>Undeclared competing interests<\/em> that bear on IP or commercialization claims.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_these_conflicts_occur\"><\/span>Why these conflicts occur<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>When multiple collaborators contribute without clear documentation, authorship and ownership become ambiguous. Journals increasingly ask for explicit contribution statements to reduce disputes.<\/li>\n<li>When language is reused across versions (conference paper \u2192 preprint \u2192 journal article) without citation or disclosure, editors may treat text recycling as unethical duplication. Preprint policies vary by publisher; some accept preprints but expect transparency about licensing and versioning.<\/li>\n<li>When authors include images, tables, or reproduced material without securing permissions, the publisher or a rights holder can raise a claim that halts publication or triggers legal action.<\/li>\n<li>Plagiarism often results from poor note\u2011taking, translation issues, or misunderstanding of citation norms; detection rates in submissions are nontrivial. Proactive screening and revision reduce risk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_is_IP_during_submission_different_from_general_IP_concerns\"><\/span>How is IP during submission different from general IP concerns<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Submission IP checks are narrowly focused on originality, attribution, licensing of included material, and prior dissemination; they are not full legal IP audits. The aim is to ensure ethical publication and avoid infringement prior to formal acceptance. Publishers use policies and screening tools to identify problems early, not to adjudicate complex ownership disputes (which may be referred to institutions).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Practical_steps_to_avoid_IP_conflicts\"><\/span>Practical steps to avoid IP conflicts<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Clarify authorship and contributions\n<ul>\n<li>At project start, agree on roles and update contributors as work changes. Use a contributor taxonomy (e.g., CRediT) and keep a written record. This prevents later disputes and aligns with journal requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Run an originality check before submission\n<ul>\n<li>Use the same class of tools publishers use (e.g. iThenticate\/Turnitin) to detect problematic overlaps and to distinguish legitimate overlaps (methods, standard phrases) from plagiarism. Enago\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/plagiarism-check\">plagiarism check<\/a> uses iThenticate and provides expert, annotated reports to help you act on flagged sections.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Declare prior dissemination and preprints\n<ul>\n<li>If the manuscript or substantial parts were posted to a preprint server, state this in the cover letter and manuscript, and follow the target journal\u2019s preprint\/licensing rules (some journals accept preprints but may restrict licensing choices). Keep preprint versions updated to link to the accepted article once published.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Secure permissions for third\u2011party material\n<ul>\n<li>For figures, long tables, or large text extracts: identify the rights holder early, request written permission (retain records), and include a permissions statement in the submission. If content is under a Creative Commons license, check the exact CC terms before reuse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Avoid self\u2011plagiarism\n<ul>\n<li>If reusing previous material (e.g., methods text), cite the original work and paraphrase; where verbatim reuse is unavoidable, obtain permission or declare it explicitly. Many journals allow limited methods overlap with attribution.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Disclose conflicts of interest and funding\n<ul>\n<li>Full disclosure of financial and intellectual interests protects you and the journal. If an author has a patent application or commercial relationship related to the topic, disclose it in the cover letter and article.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Permissions_licensing_and_copyright_transfer_what_to_know\"><\/span>Permissions, licensing, and copyright transfer: what to know<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Copyright transfer agreements (CTAs) and exclusive license agreements differ: a CTA typically assigns copyright to the publisher; an exclusive license lets authors retain copyright while granting publishing rights. Read the agreement carefully and consider whether it limits your ability to reuse your own material (e.g., in a thesis).<\/li>\n<li>For preprints: avoid assigning copyright before formal publication; many publishers advise authors to retain copyright when posting preprints and to prefer no\u2011reuse licenses on preprint servers unless necessary. Check the journal\u2019s policy before choosing a CC license for preprints.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tools_institutional_resources_and_good_practices\"><\/span>Tools, institutional resources, and good practices<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Use a version control system for manuscripts (track changes, dated drafts) and maintain a source log that records where images\/data originated and any permission correspondence.<\/li>\n<li>Use ORCID IDs for all authors to reduce identity confusion and link contributions. Encourage co\u2011authors to review all submission materials and the cover letter prior to submission.<\/li>\n<li>If flagged by a similarity check, review matches carefully. Context matters: methods or common phrases may be harmless, whereas unattributed ideas or copied text are not. If in doubt, revise and cite or quote properly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Common_mistakes_and_how_to_fix_them\"><\/span>Common mistakes and how to fix them<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Mistake: Assuming short copied passages are \u201ctoo small\u201d to matter.<br \/>\nFix: Even short unattributed phrases can be flagged; always quote or paraphrase with citation.<\/li>\n<li>Mistake: Uploading a preprint without checking journal policy.<br \/>\nFix: Declare the preprint at submission and verify license compatibility.<\/li>\n<li>Mistake: Last\u2011minute author list changes without documented consent.<br \/>\nFix: Use an authorship change form and obtain written agreement from all authors before submission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_practical_checklist\"><\/span>Final practical checklist<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Confirm authorship and obtain written consent from all authors.<\/li>\n<li>Run an originality check and address flagged items.<\/li>\n<li>List and attach permissions for any third\u2011party material.<\/li>\n<li>Declare preprints and related submissions in the cover letter.<\/li>\n<li>Disclose conflicts of interest, funding, and patent\/commercial links.<\/li>\n<li>Read the target journal\u2019s CTA\/licensing terms before acceptance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By implementing these steps, you reduce the risk of IP conflicts slowing or derailing your manuscript. Aim for transparency, documentation, and early use of the same screening tools publishers use. Enago\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/publication-support-services\/premium-package\">publication support packages<\/a> combine subject\u2011expert <a href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/manuscript-editing-services\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"98\" title=\"Manuscript Editing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">manuscript editing<\/a> with iThenticate\u2011powered plagiarism checks and annotated reports, plus guidance on permissions and submission letters. These services can help identify and resolve IP risks before you submit, so you can focus on the science rather than administrative work.<\/p>\n<div style=\"display:flex; gap:10px;justify-content:\" class=\"wps-pgfw-pdf-generate-icon__wrapper-frontend\">\n\t\t<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56939?action=genpdf&amp;id=56939\" class=\"pgfw-single-pdf-download-button\" ><img data-src=\"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-content\/plugins\/pdf-generator-for-wp\/admin\/src\/images\/PDF_Tray.svg\" title=\"Generate PDF\" style=\"width:auto; height:45px;\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\"><\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A surprising proportion of submitted manuscripts trigger intellectual property (IP) concerns during journal screening: a&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":56940,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1988,2],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[1895],"class_list":["post-56939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles","category-academic-writing"],"better_featured_image":{"id":56940,"alt_text":"How to Avoid Intellectual Property Conflicts in Manuscript Submission","caption":"","description":"Learn how to avoid intellectual property conflicts in manuscript submission and practical steps to prevent plagiarism, secure permissions, handle preprints, and pass journal screening before you submit.","media_type":"image","media_details":{"width":910,"height":340,"file":"2025\/11\/Sami-EA-Blogs-Banner-910-x-340-px-5.jpg","filesize":186599,"sizes":{},"image_meta":{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1","keywords":[]}},"post":56939,"source_url":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Sami-EA-Blogs-Banner-910-x-340-px-5.jpg"},"acf":{"faq_main_heading":"Frequently Asked Questions","faq_heading_one":"What percentage of manuscripts have plagiarism issues?","faq_heading_two":"How do I check my manuscript for plagiarism before submission?","faq_heading_three":"Do I need permission to reuse figures from published papers?","faq_heading_four":"Can I submit a manuscript if it's already on a preprint server?","faq_heading_five":"What is self-plagiarism and how do I avoid it?","faq_heading_six":"What happens if my manuscript fails an IP conflict check?","faq_description_one":"Research shows 17% of submitted manuscripts contain unacceptable levels of plagiarized material during journal screening, making pre-submission plagiarism checks essential for all researchers.","faq_description_two":"Use the same tools publishers use, such as iThenticate or Turnitin, to detect text overlaps. These tools help distinguish legitimate reuse (like methods sections) from problematic plagiarism before journals flag your work.","faq_description_three":"Yes, you need written permission from the copyright holder (usually the publisher) to reuse figures, tables, or long text excerpts, even from your own previous work, unless the material uses a permissive Creative Commons license.","faq_description_four":"Most journals accept preprinted manuscripts, but you must declare the preprint in your cover letter and ensure the preprint license complies with the journal's policy. Check specific journal guidelines before submission.","faq_description_five":"Self-plagiarism means reusing your own previously published text without citation. Avoid it by citing your original work, paraphrasing content, and declaring any necessary verbatim reuse, especially in methods sections.","faq_description_six":"IP conflicts can delay peer review, lead to desk rejection, or cause retraction if discovered post-publication. Proactive screening and proper attribution before submission prevent these career-damaging outcomes."},"views":167,"single_webinar_page_date":null,"single_webinar_page_time":null,"session_agenda":null,"who_should_attend_this_session":null,"about_the_speaker_field":null,"co-webinar-sec":null,"co_webinar_sec_one":null,"speaker-name":null,"webinar-date":null,"webinar-time":null,"webinar-s-image":null,"custum_webinar_category":null,"authors":[{"term_id":1895,"user_id":4,"is_guest":0,"slug":"editor","display_name":"Enago Academy","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2ef4bc47f3ceaa56f5eb3b26f9520fad298ba36ede4f86315997ffb45db37a1f?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","author_category":"","user_url":"","last_name":"Academy","first_name":"Editor","job_title":"","description":"Enago Academy, the knowledge arm of Enago, offers comprehensive and up-to-date resources on academic research and scholarly publishing to all levels of scholarly professionals: students, researchers, editors, publishers, and academic societies. It is also a popular platform for networking, allowing researchers to learn, share, and discuss their experiences within their network and community. The team, which comprises subject matter experts, academicians, trainers, and technical project managers, are passionate about helping researchers at all levels establish a successful career, both within and outside academia."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56939"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56939\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56955,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56939\/revisions\/56955"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56939"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enago.com\/academy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=56939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}