At The Legal Lock Journal, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical scholarship. With the increasing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools, it is important to provide clear guidance on their responsible use in academic writing and publishing.
1. AI as a Support Tool, Not an Author
Generative AI tools may assist in improving language, grammar, formatting, or idea structuring, but they cannot be listed as authors. Authorship requires accountability, which only human contributors can assume.
2. Disclosure Requirement
Authors must disclose the use of AI tools during manuscript preparation. The disclosure should mention:
- The tool name and version (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, etc.)
- The purpose of use (e.g., language editing, summarization, formatting)
This disclosure must be included in the Acknowledgments or Methods section of the manuscript.
3. Author Accountability
All responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the content—including AI-assisted sections—remains with the authors. Authors must verify references, factual accuracy, and originality before submission.
4. Restrictions on Input
Authors and reviewers should not upload confidential, unpublished, or sensitive data (such as manuscripts, peer reviews, or personal information) into AI platforms that store or reuse user data.
5. Editorial Use of AI
The Journal may use AI tools internally for grammar checks or formatting assistance but not for peer review, editorial decision-making, or drafting content. Unpublished manuscripts will never be processed using external AI systems.
6. Noncompliance
Failure to disclose or inappropriate use of AI tools may lead to rejection, withdrawal, or retraction of the manuscript, in line with COPE and publishing ethics standards.