Complaints and Appeals Policy

Journal of Intelligent Systems and Future Computing (JISFC) is committed to handling complaints and appeals fairly, transparently, and promptly, in accordance with COPE's guidance on complaints and appeals.

Appeals of Editorial Decisions

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision (e.g., rejection) may submit a formal appeal to the editorial office at editor@jisfc.com. An appeal should:

• Clearly state the manuscript ID and title
• Provide a detailed, point-by-point rationale for why the decision should be reconsidered
• Address specific reviewer or editor comments the author believes were mistaken, unfair, or based on a misunderstanding of the work

Appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief, who may consult with an independent member of the editorial board not previously involved in the manuscript's review, to ensure an impartial reassessment. Authors will be notified of the outcome in writing, with reasoning provided. The decision following an appeal is final.

Complaints Regarding Editorial or Peer Review Conduct

Authors, reviewers, or readers who have a concern about the conduct of an editor, reviewer, or the editorial process itself (e.g., undisclosed conflicts of interest, breach of confidentiality, unprofessional conduct) may submit a complaint in writing to editor@jisfc.com.

Complaints will be investigated by the Editor-in-Chief. Where the complaint concerns the Editor-in-Chief directly, the matter will be referred to another senior member of the editorial board for independent review, to avoid a conflict of interest in the investigation itself.

Complaints Regarding Publication Ethics

Concerns regarding suspected research or publication misconduct (e.g., plagiarism, data fabrication, undisclosed conflicts of interest in a published article) are handled under the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and, where applicable, its Retraction and Correction Policy, rather than through the appeals process described above.

Response Times

JISFC aims to acknowledge all complaints and appeals within 5 business days, and to provide a substantive response or resolution within 4 weeks, though complex cases requiring investigation may take longer. Complainants will be kept informed of progress where a matter takes longer to resolve.

Confidentiality

All complaints and appeals are handled confidentially, with information shared only with those directly involved in resolving the matter.