Policy on the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)

Trinity Law Review recognises the growing role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and similar large language models) in academic research and writing. In line with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the journal adopts the following policy:

1. For Authors

  • GenAI tools cannot be listed as authors. Authorship implies responsibility and accountability for the work, which AI tools cannot assume. Only humans who meet the journal's authorship criteria may be listed as authors.
  • Disclosure is mandatory. If GenAI tools were used in the preparation of a manuscript — for example, in drafting text, generating ideas, summarising literature, or preparing tables or figures — authors must disclose this transparently in the manuscript (in the Methods or Acknowledgements section), stating the name of the tool, its version, and the purpose for which it was used.
  • Permitted uses. Authors may use GenAI tools to improve the language, readability, and grammar of their own original work, provided the final text is carefully reviewed and edited by the authors. Such language-editing use should still be disclosed.
  • Prohibited uses. GenAI tools must not be used to create or fabricate research data, results, citations, or references, or to generate substantive scholarly content presented as the authors' own original analysis. Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all content, including any portion produced with AI assistance. AI-generated citations must be independently verified, as such tools may produce inaccurate or non-existent references.
  • Images and figures. The use of GenAI to create or alter images or figures is not permitted unless it is itself part of the research design and is fully disclosed.

2. For Reviewers

  • Reviewers must not upload manuscripts, in whole or in part, into GenAI tools, as this breaches the confidentiality of the peer-review process and the authors' rights over their unpublished work.
  • Peer review requires human judgement and accountability; reviewers must not use GenAI tools to generate review reports. Any limited, confidentiality-preserving use of AI must be declared to the editor.

3. For Editors

  • Editors must not upload submitted manuscripts or editorial correspondence into GenAI tools, in order to protect confidentiality.
  • Editorial decisions are made by humans; GenAI tools must not be used to make or substantively inform accept/reject decisions.

4. Non-compliance

Failure to disclose the use of GenAI, or use of GenAI in violation of this policy, constitutes a breach of publication ethics and will be handled in accordance with the journal's Ethics and Malpractice policy and COPE guidelines, which may include rejection of the manuscript or retraction of a published article.

This policy will be reviewed and updated periodically as the technology and international publishing guidance evolve.