R•gl$terÈd nLtrmb¢r'. 06389120 Charlty number.. 1123023 COMMirrEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS UNAUDITED TRUSTEES REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 COMMirrEE ON PUBLICATION ￿HICs IA company Ilmlted by guarant¢•l CONTENTS Page Rel•r•nc• ¥nd •dmSnl$tr•th• dots118 ol t￿ ¢harlty. Its trustees and advlsers Trust••8' r•port 2-10 Indep•nd•nt •xamin•rfs rnport ststom•nt ¢1 finan¢lal actl¥ltl•• 12 13 Notoo to th• fln•nclal statom•nts 14-21 COMMrrrEE ON PUBLICATION EfHICS IA company limited by guarantee) REFERENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS OF THE CHARrrY. ITS TRUSTEES AND ADVISERS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Trustèes Daniel Kulp. Chair Nancy Chescheir Ivice-chalrl Tara Loe Hoke. S8crelary Micha81 Wise. Traasurer Caroline Porter Deborah Kahn (Resigned 9 June 20241 Simon Linacre (Resigned 1 August 2023) Tim Kersjes Howard Browrnan Trevor Lane Susan Garfinkel (Appointed 7 August 20231 Emllio José Sanz Alvarez James Wllliams Mwangi Kigera Company r•gl•t•r•d numb•r 06389120 Chjrlty r•glst•r•d numb•r 1123023 R•gls¢•r•d offl¢• New Kings Court, Tollgats. Chandler's Ford, Easll8vJh. Hampshire S053 3LG Company s•cr•tary Naia1￿8 Ridgeway. EX￿￿tiVe Officer Independent Examlner Mallhew Bather, ACA, Moore Isoulhl LLP. &Jite 3, Second Floor. Friary Court. 13-21 High Slreel. Guildford, Surrey GU13DG Bankers c￿OperatIve Bank plc, PO Box 250, Delf House, Southway. Skelmersdale. WN8 6WT Solleltors Blake Morgan. New lfjngs Cwrt. Tol￿al8. Chandler's Ford, EasUeigh, Harnpshi￿, S053 3LG COIAMITfEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS IA company limlted by gu•Trnteel TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 310ECEMBER 2023 The Trustees (who are also directors of the charity forthe purposes of the Companies Act) present lh6ir annual report together th the financial statemenls oflhtr Committee on Publicalion Ethics ICOPEI lihe compBnyl for the year ended 31 Decernb8r 2023. The Trusleas coi)fiviii IIHI IIIV tiririuyl r¥pvrl 8nd rinancial slatements ol the company CoM￿Y the current slatuw requtremenls, the requirements ol the company's goveming docurnent and the provisions ol the Statemenl of Rocommended Praclice ISORP)"Accounting and R8POrting by Charities" IFRS1021 seC￿d edition. structur•. gov•man¢e and manaym•nt Constltutl•)n The company is reAislered as a charilable ￿panY lynited by guaranto8 and was sat up by a Mtsmofandum of Associalion on 3 October 2007 as amerKle(I by Special Resolutions dated 18 February 2008. 3 May 2011, 22 March 2013, 17 Apr￿ 2015. 9 Sep18mb8r 2015 and 12 0Kembgf 2019, and is regist8red charity number 1123023. The Truslee 8oar(J and Couiicil I}￿ ￿￿lItUt￿Thl members of COPE. The prlncipal obj8cls of Ihe company are the promobon for the pubh'c benefit of ethic81 stsndard8 of conduct in research and ethical standards in Ihe public8b.on of scholady jQLtrm818. M•th¢xl of *ppo5nthi•nt or •ledlon ol Trust••8 Thfj Trusiee 808rd (maximum (rf 12) consists of th8 Officers, namely.. Chalr, VIc￿h86r,. Secretsry,. TT8asuffjr', Immedi8(e Past Chair. elected members. and thos8 who are co-opted. Officers and tho Triislep Board are elected by the full Consliluliffial Members ITruste8s and Council Members). Tho Trustee Board also 8ppdnl a Chair.elect from ￿thin the Constilulional Membership who serves lor 12 months before taking on Ihe rolg ol ch￿r. Up lo four Tw818e8 may be cwpled by Ihe Tru81oe Board between general moclings. Poll¢les adopt•d for th• Indu¢tlon and trainlng of Tru8t••• Upon appoinlrnenl Trustees ar8 provide(1 with a copy of lh8 Articles ol Association and the RegkJl8tlDn9 of COPE.. they are 8150 provided wilh a briefing sessv)n. and a written document outlining the responsibililies entsiled 'On being a Trustee of COPE.. Addibonally, Ihey are required to access an 'eLeafning' I))￿Ul￿ wliibli uullinvb COPE processes and procedures. This introduction lo COPE 1$ usually conducted by one or morc of tho curronl Officers or by the Executive Olficer. Cach Trustee is also required to com ￿ete a Cffiflict of Inlerost fomi whith is upjaled annually and postcd on tho COPE website. Subsequent training is provided 85 needed. In addib'on. we nomin¥le a current Trusteè or Council member lo be a menlor to each Trusleg. Ad hoc training is carried out and when nocossory 10 ensur8 th81 Tru51ees are kept abrg35t of developmenis wth regard lo the legal and other obligalions of COPE 8$ 8 Registered Charity an¢J a Company Limrt8d by Guarantee and any of the resultant ¢)bl¥at¢on8 01 the Tnjstees. COMMITfEE OM PUBLICATION ETHICS IA company Ilmlted by guarantee) TRUSTEES, REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 • Oryanlsatlonal structurn and deelslon maklng Th8 Trustee Board Ihltp'.Ilpublicationethics.orglaboulllrustsesl is ulbmately r8sponsibl8 for the financial. legal and business operabons of COPE as a challtable business and il gives aulhorily lo Council. the Executive Officer and the COPE leam Ihltp.'Ilpublicationethics.orglcope-staffj to manage Ihe day to day affairs of ihe ￿g8n￿all0n. The TNslees of the charity are also the dIrertc￿S of the limrte(I company. Day-IoHday operational activitie5 of the busine55 are managed by COPE'S lull time Executive Officer and a full lime Optsr8lK)ns Manager The administration of the business 8clivilies of COPE are carried out by the lull lime Adminislralor. Managing the bank accwnl and 811 financial tr8ns8ctions is the responsibility ol the Executs've orricer with oversighl by Ihe Treasurer and Finance stJbcommill88. The COPE website is managed by a Ireelance Web Manag8r. A full-time Senior Membership Adminislr31or Is employed lo review 8nd administer ihe appli¢alions frffl) poltrnlial now members. A free13nc8 Engagemenl and Oulreach Olficer manage5 COPE'S c(Mnmunic8tions and engagemènt with the membership, supported by a lieelance Designer who devdops and implements all of COPE'S design nd brandlng noeds. A fre?￿nce Facllilotion & Integrity Officer administers the COPE complaint8 process. Rl•k manag•m•nt The prlncipal risks [den￿fied vllh regard io COPE and tts opor81Sons. and Ihgir mitlg8t￿, are es Ic41ow8.' lil Litigation arising from advice. gLtidance or recommendations offered to aulhors, edilors, publishers and publishing staff and others wth regard lo ethical issues raised in conneclion with published acadernic Ilearnedl journals. Full insurance cover for professional indemnily is provided al COPE'5 exp8nse lor Truslees and Counal members and lor the Executive oificer and COPE Team acting for and on behalf of COPE. The risk 15 graded 8$ IC)w-l￿MedlVM on the basis that COPE specifically does not offer adludicalion orjudgemenls wth reg8r¢l lo cases involwng ethical issues brought lo it5 allenlion. 1111 Loss of subscrlp11¢￿ Sncome. COPE will regulady re¥l8w subs(xipUon Incom8 to ensure11 is providiny value for m8mb8rs, th81 th8 subscriptions are in line with industry 8xpeclalions. and that any changes ensure broadly ihe same income year on year. Two poliaes are in place lo support a level ol fmancial stsbility.. 11 increasing subscrip¢ion lees by the Retail Pri¢e Index IRPII each year when il is prudent lo do so,, 8nd 21 diversfying our inc(Mne streams by seeking new membtrrs in urKlgrrepre5enled disciplines and counlries wilhin the COPE mgmb8rship. The Finance Su1)￿mMit190. Igd by thg Treasurer, is in ch8rge of managing this polw. liiil Loss of data. Data relaling to COPE'S business and financial affairs are retained by the Executive Officer and COPE Team and held in a secure localion as eleclronic copies in the 'cloud' on Google Drive and two online managemenl systems.. Basecamp and Monday.com. No 818clronic fi￿S are held on computer hard drivgs by the Execulive oificer or any membgrs ol the 10am. In addition, the database of COPE Membgrs 45 retained on Ihe COPE website whith 15 managed separately under contract by the company responsible for general maintenance and development of the COPE w&b$ite. Thi5 company provides forautomatic back-up of COPE data. The risk of k)ss of irrecoverable data is regarded as Iow-to-me(Jium. livl Physi￿1 8ssets. COPE has no substantial &thy5ical assets. Iv) COPE ctMlinu8lly ￿viewS its c(￿51￿utiC￿ to ensure good g)vemance arwj oversight whith is now the sole provinco of the Trusl¢o Board and a projecl lo actively wew the Artides of Assoclabon and Regulations is in place for 2024. COMMITfEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS IA company limlted by guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENOED 31 DECEMBER 20Z3 Objoctlvos and Actlvltles A¢tlvlti•¥ for achl•viTrg obJ•ctlv•s and acting lor publSc banofll In planning our acb'vits"e5 for the year we have kept In mind the Charity CommissKJners guidancè on public benefil. COPE was established to provide 8 range of services and pr¢xluct5 aimed primarily. bul nol exclusively, al edilofs and publishers of 18amed jwmals and designed to provide advice and giiid8nr8 on best practicè l(Y d881ing wth ethical issues in journal publishing. SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES Irate Since June 2023, COPE h8s been doveloping its next slraleglc plan. Th15 development process has seen inpui Irom many dSfferenl avenues. a membèrship survey and telephone interviews hwth 8 small group ol non-members who wbli5h OU￿"de of the 'tradittonal' journ81 structure to underst8nd their needs.. exl&nslve 8iid culi1￿￿X d1¥W¥b￿n5 arnong Ihe Trustee Board antl Councll to considgr wherè COPE should ba focussinfj its efforts., and listening lo members of the SCI￿larlY community outsid8 01 the publisher andlor edilly role. This has been a well thoughi Ihrough process and COPE will be publishing its new strategic plan for the period 2024-2027 in Ihe last quarter of 2024. nc8m ains PE mem In January 2023. COPE publishad an edll(Yl31 in themonthfy newslfjtterwhe￿ il C4)mmitted to 8 thorough review ol ils facilitation and integrity process lo ensure il is slill fil lor purpose in today's landscape. During 2023 and intn 2n24 a wnrkino umiip havA hpen working steadily to considw lh¥ eharyJes that are necessary to this and Ihe new policy and process is due lo be launched in last quarter of 2024. M8mbershi In earty 2023. COPE committed lo a wid8-fanging review of its m8rrtberghip application pro¢gSS to ensure that wo are accepting appropriale members into COPE Membership. An extremely complox process, involving many different systems and individuals at differenl points in the prtKe5S. 8 working group has been steadily working throsjgh the Changes we need to make lo the process and we expect lo launch the first phose of this in e8rly 2025. Unil 2A Summrt In 2023 COPE, ￿th STM Association. held 8joinl summit lo lac￿& Ihe issues ol paper mi115. The summit was held virtually, and attended by key representstivos from the global s18keholdeT communily governments. inslitulions. researchers, funders, publishers and 8 few others with particular knowledge and influence related lo r¢sear¢h integrity. Thg SLHnmit1od lo the publicabon ol a conoolloug statemenl sign$d by the participants and other5 post-summil. Furlher to this. COPE and STM cr&at8d the United2Acl initl8tive, 8 joint project. which has seen the implementai¢on of a number ol working groups who aro all leading drfferenl initialwes to help in combatting paper mills. COMMITfEE OM PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company Ilmlted by guarnntee) TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 New website ro ect The COPE website underwgnl a major refresh during 2018119 to enable eaS￿r discoverability ol resour￿S and guidance and thg new site was lavn¢hod in 20t9. A5 websile5 continually evolve, and owing lo the need lo move its content management system due lo the existsng version reaching end of life. we circulated a lender for a new website partner in 2022. This extensive and intensive process Culminalgd in COPE contra¢ling with CTI Digitsl. Since NovtrmbeT 2022 wo have baen working dosely and intensively with CTI Digital lo develop a now ￿bSIte. This exciting project will see phase one launched in tlecember 2024. EVENTS COPE Forum COPE holds a Forum meetiThJ, lour times a year {all are wrtuall. at which members c8n raise and discus8 particular and general ethical issues. COPE then undertakes lo publish wriiten summaries of these Forum discussions (suitably eijited and anonymised to ensure that identifiable details suth as namgs 01 individu81s. journa15 and in51itub.ons are removed) on the COPE website wrth free, unhindered access for anyone visiting th8 websile. A classification hierarchy is used lo 8llow all interested users of the website lo firKI cases ￿ specific issues more 8asity. The Forum report5 thus lorm part of a developing database of 'c8se law, rel81ing lo ethical issue5 in jwm81 publishing and hence a valuable and valued resourco for those involved with elhical matters. COPE members and non-members alike. Member queries or cases thal are tInab￿ to wart lor Forum. ty where they would prefer thern lo be discussed in confidence, are responded lo inlemally via Council. Al each Forum. COPE also pres&nt a discusston lopic vthich Is the firsl slep In underslandSng th requirements lor any potents'al guidance Ihat may be requir&d from COPE. The topics discussed al Forum In 2023 include- Artificial Inlelligence and fake papers Best practlces for gue51 ediled collectlo PeeT review rnodels Cl8lmiNJ Sn8111ulknn818ffili8lions. Publication Int COPE has been holding in person. one day seminars for many yoars. During Ihe pandgmi¢, these moved online and since Ihen has remained a virtual offering as w6 are able to reach more of COPE'S global membership. In 2023, the sefninar was rebranded as Publicats'on Integrity Woek and COPE hoste(110 online seSSiL￿5 covering topics such as inclusive language, Al and p88r reviow, publication misrondud and handling Cases ol misconduct. The event was very su￿sSIu1 and will now becom8 an annual event. Webinar In 2023 COPE held on online webinar on th8 topic of 'Enh8ncing partnerships of Inslilutions and joumals,. COMMirrEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company limli•d by guwanteel TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 RESOURCES Audit COPE has a journal audit whith many ol its members have used lo check that their publications operations are following best practice. This audTt was coM￿etelY wxlal8d and revised during 2018 and republished as the 'COPE Joumal Audil". The Journal Audit is in plannin9 for lurther development in 2024 lo support more interactivity wth the Audit and for different versions to b8 US￿ al different lime5 within a Membèr'5 journey within COPE. COPE has also publlshed a Spanish Versi(￿ of Iho JoumL)I Audit and is planning mofy Iranslaticffls, $pe¢ifically Chinese and Portuguesg. COPE'8 reLuiiirTitrnudlivns are also avaiiat>ie in ine TOMI OT 1Th¥cna￿P ana iniograpnk", wnicn arc used in mBny editorial olfices and have been translaleo into several languaoes. The flowcharts 8nd infographics have beon restyled lo ensure consistency across all veTsion5 and were releas8d in 2021. COPE also produc8s spefific guidance and dI$￿$s￿)n d￿￿ments on a number of issu8s. During 2023 the following war8 develope(l or updated.. Now guldance on 'Addr888ing concerns abwt sys¢gmatic manipu18tlon of the publicali¢)n process,. A new discussK)n document on'Dgaling wFth concerns atout the integrity ofpublSshed regearch,. A new discussion d¢xumonl on 'Besl practices for handling gue$l edited collectiOnS'. 8 new flowcharts on issues regarding dala sharing published in collal)oralion with Force 11. Revisions lo Iwo flowchart$ on fabricated data.'"Fabricaled data in a submilled manuscripl, and 'Fabricale(J dal8 In a published artide.. A revisions to the flowchart'How lo recognise potential aulhorship problems.. Duiiiiy 2024, i¥¥Uur￿￿1 wlJlibli¥d inLlude'. A new ftowchart on 'guidance for when inslilutions are Kffltacied by j¢)umals'. A new flowchart on 'handling con¢urrenl submissions,. Fulty revised guidelines on 'Cooperation b81wgen re6e8rch In8tiluUonB and journ81s on research, inlegrity and publication misconducl cases.. An updatèd flowchart on 'ln8ppropriale image manipulatK*n in a rAJblished article,. An updated flowch8rt.what lo consider when asked to p88r review a manuscript.. Initial work has also ￿un by COPE Membern on creJling new OT updating existing and in¢liJdes'. New guidelings on 'Expressions of Concem.. A lull update of the 'Relraction guidelines,. A new discussion document on 'Watthlists'. New discussion document 'Besl Practi￿ around Klenlity and name changes,. New guidance on 'Dala availability,. A new discussion document on 'Historical offensive cortsnl.. New guidance on 'lntelle¢lual property and copyright,. New guidance on 'Claiming affiliations in schobarfy ￿lbliC￿linns'. New guidance on 'Author behamoural misconduct,. New guidelines on How to disclos8. appty, and &lminisler author fees and waNer$ I discounts l incenb'ves. A new discussi￿ documenl on Claiming affiliati{￿S in scholarfy publicallons. New guidance ￿ 'ld8nlifying lunding sources in pU￿•catiOns,. COMMITfEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company &mited by guarantoel TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Converting the discussion dcwment ￿ 'Handling guest 8dited collections, Into formal GOPE guidelines. Revision to the discussion documents 'Whal constitutes pla9iarism' and 'Texl reGycling'. Consideration the issues around GDPR and othgr dats privacy laws and how this affects COPE guidance. Addlllonal guidelines or dIscusSK￿ do￿lMent thal COPE offgrs. InclLtdas'. 'JoLtmals' Best Practices for Ensuring Consent for PUt￿lShIng Medical Case Reports.. 'Short Guide lo Ethical Editing for New Ediiors.. 'Elhical guidelines for pegr reviewefs.. Editors, relations with Igarned socioties.. which was revise(l and renamod as 'Guidelinos for managemenl relab￿ShIpS botr*pen souetywed journals. their S￿l￿tY and publishers,. sition statements COPE has issued three position stalements over the past three years- (1} publish8d in 2021, COPE confimied ils position on the issue ol 'lhe protection of vulnerable groups and individuals';121 in 2022, we reaffirmed our 2013 position on 'geopolilical in(ru5ions on editori31 decisions, owing to the war in Ukraine. In 2023. we issued a slalemenl on Authorship and Al tools wer8 we reileral8d that Al tools cannot be consid8red an author.. and 1418 new positlon sialemenl In 2024 on paper mills. In addition lo this. during 2024, COPE has been working lo dislill all of ils guidanc8 into short COPE positions which we can easily point members 8nd non-member lo on Ils w8b8i18. These will be published in the18sI quarter of 2024. COPE WEBSITE Internal work we have conducled to Imwove the existing website inctud88'. ￿nsiStencY ol content across the site; a clear archiwng policy for old conlenL full html pages for all guidan¢8 lin addttional to pdlsl.. change$ to lagging and URL crealion to ensure impfoved SEO. The website is also kept updated wlh news atsoul ethical issues and publications likety to be ol interest to editois and publishers. In 2022, COPE launched a new initiative in our monihly newslellers seeking opinion pieces or invited guesl editorials for publicalion in the newsletters. COPE also has a presencg on FaceboDk. Linkedln and Twiller wih an active membership. COPE publishes a monlhly eN8wsl8tt&r. COPE Digest, available lo members and non-members which contains COPE updates. an analysis ol publication ethics in tre news, and educ8ts"on81 malerial. A¢hievwn•nts and perfomianc• Rovl•w of actlvlties During the period under ￿vIeW. thal Is the calendar year ended 31 December 2023, COPE continued lo attract and recruil new journal and publisher members. At the end of 2023 14.265 members were Ilslgd on its. Neady all major publishers have agreed to sign up their journals 85 members of COPE by paying a subscription", however, COPE is reliant on th8 puUishers to provide details of their jwrnals, and to infom) COPE of any changes. It is the￿fOre not always wssible to give an exact figur6 of th number of COPE joumal members at any speiafic date as there is often 8 delay b&fore the publisher updates its records. COMMrrtEE ON PUBLICAnoN EfHICS IA company limited by guarantee) TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 The launch of COPE'S university and research institutes mernbership in May 2022 saw eleven universltses agree to bocomg members. During 2023 an addiliL%wl three unNersities ltyn￿ COPE and th& initiativg will be opened up more widely al tlie eiid ul 2024. Flnanclal r•vl•w Thg ovoral resull for 2023 was positive and ha5 resuttgd in on increase In total reserves.. Opening balance, reserves at 01 January 2023 £354,127 111) Closing balan￿. reseNes at 310ecember 2023 £387.276 The y88r end surplus of £33.149 repr6serrts a d8cr8a$e frcth a surplus in 2022 of £3.319. Op&ratlng cosls inrJ8ased from 2022 to 2023.. Total cosis 2022 £488,274 Total COBts 2023 £533,158 Thg increase in costs from 2022 10 2023 was £44,884. main reasons for the rise In costs in 2023 ralalg 10.. Th8 appoinlmgnl ofa new COPE Administralwwhol￿ned us in July 2023 as a full 1Sme employee. This role r9placgd a position that had been v8canl for ihe pre￿o￿S 12 monlhs. b) Initlal cos15 related lo the developmoftt ol tho now COPE web8i1o JS Vl8 undortook work wlth the dig11al agency lo develop ￿1r&frameS, which fomi ihe loundalion ol the now websile. An online membership survfry 8nd t6￿hOne ir)terviews WKIuLlvd by an extemal market research agency, b)th of whth supyxted the deVelopn￿nI of COPE'S new 51ralegic plan. Inv•stm•nt pollcy and p•rforn)an¢o COPE is ¢))mmitted lo the adoptM)n and impl8ment8tlon of ethical pollcies with regafd to its financial inve51rnents. As such ils banking arrangemenis reviewed Io gnsure that any monies held by COPE are secure. GOPE has since openad an additional savings accoulll wilh the Nalionwidtt Lu hold som¥ of 118 rcsorvos 10 8prg8d the risk in ￿$¢ of a banking i55ue. COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION EfHICS (A company limited by guarnnteel TRUSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 Reserves policy It has been agreed by the Council that it is approwiate for COPE to maintain strategic fin8ncial reseryes 5vfficienl lo accomrn(Klal8 unavoidable operating costs lor a peri¢)J of 12 months in the evenl that the decision were lo be made lo close COPE and cease acb"vibes. The C(xJn¢il has ag￿ed th81 the am¢yJnl for the strategic Te5er¥e shoukl b8 at least £225,000 - Ihis amount lo be revievded and agreed annu8lly. The figure has been sel largdy to accommodate the costs ol the Executive Officer, Operations Manager. Senior Membership Administrator. Administrator and freelance staff (Engagemenl & Outreach oificer, Website Manag8r. Designer, and Facilitation & Integrily Oflicerl.. COPE does not incur significant overhead costs such as office accommodation or Capital assets. To th8 peri￿ ending 2022. the actual reserves wefe higherthan the £225.000 agreed. To retum the reserve closer lo Ihe agre8d lev81 durbng 2023 the Twstees have= Commltted to a larye project which wlll transfomi our dh3ital offering f¢y our members. As m8ntioned 8lsewhere, wg are in phase of a throe-year project lo upgrade and transform our website. offering a better eX￿rienCe for our membars. We will also implementing a CRM (Customer Relationship Managomenl sysleml which will allow us lo more effectively cornmunicate with our members as well as our members engag8 more easily with COPE. This is a significant proj8d. with a stgnificantbudgel altach8d, whlch will be ￿1￿ lor out of the surplu8 we have acuued. Plan$ for thè futu Futur• d•volopment• COPE wlll conlbnue lo investigate and. where apwopnale. develop ond mak8 available, relevant new service5 and resources fty its Members and others. Amongsl those planned for 2023-2024 arg.. Openlng up general aFplication for Univgrsity & Rgsearth Inslilules. The implementation of ils new stratsgic plan. ensuring ihat COPE'S oper0￿n8 can support the goals and obje¢tsvgs. A lender will be circulated at the end of 2024 lor a Customer Relationship Managemont ICRMI System. Thi5 wdl help COPE to SUPF*yI its members belter Wlth more targ8ted r8sourc8s and events. Further developrnenl wll also be undertaken on ils website durir¥J 202510 inlegr3le the CRM with the website. Further collaboraiicn wilh ils parlner (wgan￿Ots￿$. Including STM, DOKJ, WAME, UKRI elc. Trust••s Responslblliti The Trusl8os (who are 81s0 directors of the c￿￿mIttee Publution Ethics for the purF4Jses of company lawl are responsible for r*eparing the TTUStees' Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United lfjrwlom AcLX)uniing Standards (United Kingdom Gèngralty AcGepled knounting PraGticel. Company law requlrfjs tho Truslees to Prepare finanLial ststements for each financ¥al year. which give a true and lair view ol the stale ol affairs of th8 charitablè company an¢J of the inc¢)ming resources and applicats'on of resources. induding the income and gxp¢ndilure. of the Gharrtable company for that period. In preparing these fir¢ancsal stalements. the Trustees are rgquired to= COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company limitad by guarantee) TRVSTEES. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 selecl suitable accounting pdici&s and then apply Ihem con5151ently", obseN8 the rnelhods and prin￿￿e$ in the charit￿s SORP 2019 IFRS 1021. make judg¥riieiilb di￿ ¥bliiTllim4nl iilcoiiie 565,669 oi8 524,742 TOTAL INCOMING RESOURCE8 586.307 524, 742 RESOURCES EXPENDED Charitable actiwlies Other 525.304 7,854 481, 143 7,131 TOTAL RESOURCES EXPENDED 533 158 488 274 MOVEMENT IN TOTAL FUNDS FOR ThE YEAR- NET SURPLUS FOR THE YEAR 33.149 36,468 RECONCILIATION OF FUNDS.. Totsl Iu17ds 81 l J811uury 2023 354 127 377,659 TOTAL FUNOS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 The r88ults lor the year derive continuino actwities and thgro are no gains or105S8S Oth8r than tho*¢J khnwn #bove. Tlie notL+ID VY9ps 14 10 21 fom7 Port of these finan￿al statèments. 12 cOMMI￿EE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company Ilmltod by gu#r¥nte•) REGISTERED NUMBER: 06389120 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023 2023 2022 Note CURRENT ASSETS Deblors Cash al bank 5.568 428,879 3,952 360,292 434,447 364,244 LIABILITIES CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 10,117 NET CURRENT ASSETS 354,127 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 354 127 CHARITY FUNDS Unrestricted lunds 12 354, 127 For the financial year ended 31 December 2023 the company was entitled lo exemplDn from audit undgr $8ction 477 01 the Cownies Act 2(X)6 relating lo sm811 companies. DIreCt￿8, responslbiliU88'. The mernbers have not required Ihe c(¥npany to obtain 8n audit ol its financial stslements for the year in question in accordance with 5ecIKm 476., Th& directors acknowledge their rasponsiknlities fLY ￿mp￿.n9 with the requirements of the Acl wllh respect to accounting records and lh8 preparation of finanaal sialemgnls. These flnanrjal stat8ments have been prepared in accordance wilh the provisi￿$ app￿¢9￿￿ lo companios subject lo the small comp8nies' Tegim8 and the charities Statement of Recofflmended Practice and Financial Reporting Standard 102 se¢lion 1A. The Ilnandal statements were approved by the Direct￿5 on and signed on their behall. by.. D•nl81 Kulpi Chalr The notes on pages 14 10 21 form part of these finan￿al statements. COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company Ilmited by gu¥ranteel NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 310ECEMBER 2023 ACCOUNTING POLICIES 1.1 Company St•tvs The company is a comp8ny limrt8d by guarantee and has no share c8pilal. The company 15 Incorporated in England & Waks. The company is governed by its association of articles completed on 3 October 2007, and $ubsequen¢ amends as nol8(l on page 2. The company way regisiered with the Charity Commission on 29 Fphryjary ?008. registerod number 1123023. The address of th8 règisler8d office is givgn in the Reference and Administrative Details oiven p8ge 1 of thesg , hg rr1em￿r￿ Oi ikiy bompaily dlv tII¥ I IUblv¥b Iiyrrittu ￿ pag¢ 1. In the evenT of Ilie ￿lIv{￿ny b8ing wound up, th8 liabillly In respect ol ihe guarant&& is limited to L1 por member of the company. The nature ol the chanties opèrations and principal aclwities 8re explained in the Truslges Reporl. The company consblules a wblic bw)ofi1 as defin8d by FRS102. 1.2 B4vl8 ol pr•p4ntlon ol financlal $latem•nt• The thnancial statemgnts h8ve b88n prepared In accordancg wf(h Accounting and Reportlng by Charill8s'. Ststement of Recomrnended Practicè applicable to charities prgparfng their accounts In accordance the Financial Reporting S￿ndard applicable in the UK and Rgpvblic ol Ireland, SORP IFRS1021 (second edition). the Financi81 Rermyting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and RepublK of Ireland IFRS1021 Sect￿ 1A and the Charities Act 2011. The financial sial8m¢nts are prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention. The Ilnancial stalernenis are wepaied in slerfiiw wliith ill the functional currency, and hav8 begn founded to tho ne8iesl pound. Assets and liabilities are Inilialty reccsnised 81 hiskncal cost cf Iransaclion value unle8S Otherwlse stsled in Ihg relevant accounting polw cff note. The charity has taken advantage of ihe ex9mpti￿7 not to PT(*Juce a ca$h flow under FRS102 Sgcts'on 1A8nd SORP 2019. 1.3 Golng ¢¢)nurn Al the tsrnè ol approving Ihe accounts. thg Trusl886 hava 8 reasonable expeclalion Ihot Iho comp8ny has adequate resourrTr.8 lo continue to operate for the foreseeable future. The TnJsleg$ conlSnu8 to adopl the going cOn￿M basis of accounting in preparing the financial statèments. 1.4 Incoming r•sour¢•s All incoming resources are Included in the Stslement of Financial Acti￿lieS ISOFAI when Ihg charfly 15 legalty entilled lo the in￿￿e, the amount Can be reliably measured and il is probable that the income wll be received. SubscriptK)ns 8re raised from Ihe date of acceptance to 31 December each year. They are recorded in lull when r8ceiva￿e. Any subsuiplions th8t are waived in ¢he yeaf are included as subs¢rry)tion income and as a grant payable. Interest ￿CeiVable K8 accovnled for on an accruals b85iS. 14 COMMrrTEe ON PUBLICATION EfHICS IA company Ilrnlled by guarant￿) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 1.5 Resources expend All oxpenditure is acc(xJnted for on an accruals basis an¢J 15 inclusive of ifrecoverable VAT. Expenditure is recognised where there is a legal or construclive obllgalion ID make payments to third parties. il is probable Ihal the seillement will be required and th8 olJig8tion can b8 measured rellably. Thg charity'$ seminar costs are allccated to direct charitabl$ oxpendituie. ExF4ndilure on ch8ri18ble 8cbwtses inckjdes grants with relevant Support costs and govemance costs. Grants are ¢harg8d in th8 yoar thoy aro approved f￿ payment. No grants ar& deferrod. Other ex￿nditU(g indudes all expendilvre that is neither related lo raising lunds for the charity nor part ol its expenditure on ¢harilat4e activitses. 1.6 Alloutlon of support ￿5¢8 Support costs ara those funclions Ihat assist the work of Ihe charlty, bul do not dlreclly undertake charitsble aclivilies. Support cosls InchJde salaries and administrative expgnsos. Those costs havo all been allocated to charitskAe aclivilies as t1￿$ is ￿lY ¢)ne aclNity undfjrtakon by tho charlty. 1.7 D•blor8 Trade and other debtors are recognised al the settlemonl amount due after anytradediscounl offered. Pr&paymenls are valued al the 8mounl prepaid nel of 8ny trade d15counts due. 1.8 Cash at Bank and In Hand Cash al bank and in hand indudes cash and short term highty liquhl inv8Strnenl$ with short malurity ol three months or less from the date ol acquisltion or opening of lh8 deposil or similar account. 1.9 Crodltor• Credtiors are Trcognised when the charity has a present cOligation rgsulting from past ovents and can be me¥sured or estimated reliably. Creditors are recognised at their settlem&nt amounts. 1.10 P•nslon Costs The charitable company pays contribulions into a defined ¢￿tribution scheme for its employees and the pension charge represents the am(MJnts p8yable by the charitsble company in respect ol the year. The assets of the sch&me are held separalely from th)se of the tharilable company In an Independgnuy administered lund. 1.11 FlnanciJl instruments The company 0￿Y has finanual asseis and financial li8bifrlies of a krnd th81 qualrfy as basic financial instruments. Basic financial inslrumenls are initially recognised 81 transactson value and subsequ8nUy measured at their seltlemenl valug. 15 COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIOM ETHICS {A ¢¢mpany Ilmlted by guwaTrtee} NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 1.12 Forelgn curr•ncl•s Foreign currency Iransacbons ar8 inrtialty r8cognised by applying to the foreign curreiicy amount th& gpot exchange Tale between the funciTronal cuttency 8nd the forwgn currency ai the date ol the tr8ns8Ction. Monetary assels and liats'lities denominated in a foreign Curren￿ at the balance shoel dale are IT*n3lated using the dosing rale. 1.13 Unr•strlct•d funds Unrestricted funds are subscriptbons and Incoming resourr8s f￿1Vable or generated for the 0￿.ecIS of the charity wilhoul furlher sp8eJfied wrpose and are availablg as general lunds. 1.14 Judgem•nt4 and K•y Sourus of Estlmatlon Un¢•rtalnty In the 8pplicatlon of tlie Ll)8rildbl¥ wiTipafiy ¥ li¢￿￿￿tInY wliGie5, Trustees are required lo make ludgemenls, astimales and assumption5 about the carrying amount ol assels 8nd liabilllie8 th81 are not readily apparenl Irom other sources. The e5￿MateS and as59¢iated assurnpliong are based on historical experience and olh&r factws th81 aTr considered to be reb8vanl. Aclual rgsults m8y diffèr from these estima(es. The eslirnales and undtrrlying a55umplions are reviewed on an ong¢ing b8518. Revislons to accounting esbmales are fecognised in the period which the 8slimalg is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the per￿ of the revision and fulurg pori¢xls whero the revision affects boih curieiil diid lulur¥ y¥ri(Klb. The Twstges do nol beI￿Ve thal there are ary judgem8nts LY oslimaigs that affect these accounts. INCOMING RESOURCES FROM OTHER TRADING ACTMTIES Total fvnds 2023 rot funds 2022 Subscriptions Subsuipb'ons waived 495,472 70,197 467,743 56,999 524,742 l income from olher tr8ding actiw'li88 for 2023 and 2022 wa5 unrestricted. 16 COMMITfEE ON PUBLICATIOM ETHICS (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 RESOURCES EXPENDED ON CHARrrABLE ACTIVIES Total funds 2023 Total funds 2022 Grants Payable (Nole 51 Seminar costs Website costs Support costs (see below) 70,197 37,798 95,679 56,999 32.868 117,965 481, 143 All expenditure on charit8ble activities for 2023 and 2022 was unrestrkled. ALLOCATION OF SUPPORT COSTS Total 2023 Tol81 2022 General admini8¢rali Admlnistrolion R8s8arch Insurance Moeting costs PR & Marketing Personal developm￿1 and tr8lnlno Sponsorship Unwersity membership and adM￿lstra￿.0n Bad debts 67.317 171,535 13,743 2.331 3,604 33.109 2.334 884 24,S1 S 23,693 205,606 5,337 2,245 28,459 850 5,931 482 273,311 321,630 All support costs are direcdy atIn￿lable to the Chariiable Aciiwties. OTHER Total Funds 2023 Tolal lunds 2022 Independent examiner's fees Accountancy and bookkeeping Legal and professional fees Governance costs 2,380 3,368 1,304 802 2,265 3,356 840 670 l expenditure on olher cos15 2023 and 2022 was unrestsicted. Inckjded in the above aTr gov¢mance costs tolalling £5,385 {2022- £5.1631. 17 COMMrrrEE ON PUBLICATION EfHICS (A company Ilmlttrd by guarants•) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 ANALYSIS OF GRANTS PAYABLE 2023 2022 Individuals Subscriptions waived 70.197 56,999 Thè subsr￿1ptIOnS waived relate to 337 memb8rs (2022 - 2401 receiving grants of vadous omounls, dèpending upon the numbef of journals wblished. TRUSTEES During the year. no Trustegs received any banefiis in kind12022- £NI}. No12022 - 21 trustees recelved reimbursement ol expens8s of £Nil12022 - £192.60) in respoct ol travel and subslslence costs l(K 3ttendarKg al council meelings and seminaT3. In accordance wilh the Memorandum 8nd Articles ofAssociabon, Ihe Twsle*8 may b8 paid all reasonable and proper expenses incurTed by them in connection with their attendanrA9 at meeting5 and in discharge of their dutie$. STAFF COSTS Staff costs wer8 as folbws: 31 D•cembor 1023 31 D8¢8mb8r 2022 Wages and salarios Social security costs Employers allowance Pension co$ls 159.882 17,670 15,0001 123, 713 14,361 fS,000) 135 357 The average monthly number of emptyees during the year wa5 as follows.. 31 D•¢•mber 2023 31 December 2022 No. Op8ralional staff 8mpk)yee 12022 - 1 I received em￿OYee benefits lgxduding employer penslon costs) amounting lo bets¥een £80,000 and £90,LXIO during the year. The tolal 8mounl of remuneratlon. including Emyoyws NIC and pension. paid to key management pèrsonnel *n ihe year was £87.22512022- £83,555). 18 COMMrrrEE ON PUBLICATION ￿HICs (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 DEBTORS 2023 2022 Trade debtors Prepayments and accwod Inc( 4,804 764 3,188 3,952 CREDITORS.. Amounts lalllng du• wlthln on• y•ar 2023 2022 Accruals and doferred incom8 Trade creditors Other creditors Taxation and 50oal security 4.140 36,353 1.636 5.042 3,839 1,268 5,010 10,117 10. DEFERRED INCOME 2023 2022 Al 1 January Additions in year Relea58d in year 171 171 11711 Al 31 Decembor 171 11. PENSIONS The charitable company oper8tes a dgfin8d contribution penS￿n scheme for qualifying employees. The assets ol the scheme are held separately frcrfn those of the company in an independenlty adminislere(J fund. Al 31 December 2023 £1,63612022- £1,268) was induded in creditors. COMMtrrEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS IA company Ilmlted by guawante•l NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDEO 31 0ECEM8ER 2023 12. STATEMENT OF FUNDS Brought Incoming Forward Rtsources Resources Expended Carrlèd Forward Unr•$trictsd funds Genoral funds UnreJtrlct•d fund• lor y•ar •nd•d 31 D•c•mb•r 2022 Brought Incoming Forward Re8oiiices Resource• ExpFJnded CarTlod Fonward Unrnjtrlctod funds G¥n¥r#l ftjnds 311￿ .. ￿24.zI2 J48fi2Z4) aSU27 13. ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS BETWEEN FUNDS Currnnt A8S•ts Liabiliti•• Total Unr••trlcted funds G&￿ra1 fund5 Unr•stri¢t•d funds for year end•d 31 December 2022 Current Assets LlabSlltl•$ Total Unrestricted fund$ General funds 117 20 COMMITfEE ON PUBLICATION ETHICS (A company limited by guarantee) NOTES TO THE FMNCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023 14. CONTROLLING PARr There is controlling party. 15. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS During the year the company indemnified the twstees agoinsl any liability by taking out insurance costing £2,331 {2022- £2.2451 orb the￿ behdf. 21