Conflict of interest disclosure

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  1. Conflict of Interest Disclosure

This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and managing Conflicts of Interest (COI) within the context of collaborative knowledge creation, specifically on platforms like this wiki. It is aimed at beginners and outlines the importance of transparency, the various forms COI can take, and the procedures for disclosure. Maintaining the neutrality and reliability of information is paramount, and understanding COI is vital to achieving this goal.

What is a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict of interest exists when an individual's personal interests – financial, professional, or otherwise – could potentially compromise their objectivity, independence, or impartiality when contributing to or editing content. It doesn't necessarily imply wrongdoing; rather, it creates a *risk* of bias. Even the *appearance* of a conflict of interest can damage the credibility of the wiki and the trust placed in its information. Consider it a situation where your ability to contribute neutrally is, or appears to be, compromised.

The core principle is that edits should be made to improve the encyclopedia, not to promote personal gain or a particular viewpoint tied to external interests. This is directly related to the five pillars of Wikipedia, which, although this is not Wikipedia, provide a useful framework for understanding the principles of collaborative knowledge. One of these pillars is "Neutral point of view," and COI directly threatens this.

Why is COI Disclosure Important?

Transparency is key. Disclosing any potential conflicts of interest allows other editors to assess your contributions with a clear understanding of your potential biases. It doesn’t automatically invalidate your edits, but it allows the community to scrutinize them more effectively and ensure they adhere to the principles of Neutrality.

Here’s why disclosure is crucial:

  • **Maintains Credibility:** An open and transparent approach fosters trust in the wiki's content.
  • **Facilitates Collaboration:** Knowing about potential conflicts allows other editors to work with you to refine and improve content, mitigating any bias.
  • **Protects the Wiki:** Disclosure helps prevent the wiki from being used for promotional or self-serving purposes.
  • **Encourages Responsible Editing:** It promotes a culture of ethical and responsible contribution.
  • **Upholds the Wiki's Reputation:** A wiki known for its impartiality and accuracy is a more valuable resource.

Ignoring a conflict of interest, or attempting to hide it, can lead to serious consequences, including the reversion of edits, warnings, or even a block from editing. This is why proactive disclosure is *always* the best course of action.

Types of Conflicts of Interest

Conflicts of interest can manifest in numerous ways. Here are some common examples:

  • **Financial Interest:** This is perhaps the most obvious type. It includes:
   *   **Employment:** If you are employed by a company whose products or services are discussed in an article, you have a financial COI.  For example, an employee of Apple editing the article on iPhones.
   *   **Stock Ownership:** Owning stock in a company directly related to an article's subject matter.
   *   **Investments:** Any financial investment that could be affected by the content of an article.
   *   **Compensation:** Receiving payment or other benefits from an organization whose interests are relevant to an article.  This includes things like affiliate marketing, sponsorships, or free products.
  • **Professional Interest:** This arises from your profession or expertise.
   *   **Academic Affiliation:** A researcher editing articles related to their field of study, especially if they have published research on the topic.  This is not automatically a problem, but requires careful disclosure and attention to neutrality.
   *   **Professional Expertise:** An engineer editing articles on engineering topics, or a lawyer editing articles on law.
   *   **Consulting Roles:** Providing consulting services to a company whose products or services are discussed in an article.
  • **Personal Interest:** This involves connections that could influence your objectivity.
   *   **Family Relationships:**  If a close family member works for a company or is involved in a topic discussed in an article.
   *   **Personal Beliefs:** Strong personal opinions or advocacy for a particular viewpoint. While it’s impossible to be entirely free of bias, editors should strive for neutrality and disclose any strong pre-existing beliefs.
   *   **Close Relationships:**  A close friendship with someone involved in the article's subject matter.
  • **Affiliation with Organizations:** Membership or active involvement in organizations with a vested interest in an article's topic. This includes advocacy groups, lobbying firms, and political organizations.
  • **Promotional Interests:** Attempting to promote a product, service, company, or individual through edits. This is a clear violation of the wiki's principles and is often considered a form of spam. This also ties into What Wikipedia is not.

It’s important to note that these categories are not mutually exclusive. A single editor might have multiple, overlapping conflicts of interest.

How to Disclose a Conflict of Interest

The process for disclosing a conflict of interest is straightforward and essential. There are several methods, and using multiple methods is often recommended for maximum transparency.

1. **User Page Disclosure:** The most important step is to prominently declare your COI on your User Page. Create a section specifically for COI disclosures and clearly outline your relevant interests. Be specific. Instead of saying "I work in the tech industry," say "I am employed as a marketing manager at Acme Corporation, which manufactures smartphones." Use a standardized template if one is available on this wiki. Example:

```wiki

Conflicts of Interest

I am employed by ExampleCorp, a manufacturer of widgets. I may contribute to articles related to widgets or the widget industry. I will strive to maintain a neutral point of view, but my affiliation with ExampleCorp may influence my editing. ```

2. **Edit Summaries:** When making edits to articles where you have a COI, *always* include a disclosure in your edit summary. For example: "Adding information about new features (employed by Acme Corp)." This provides immediate context for each specific edit.

3. **Talk Page Disclosure:** If you are initiating a discussion on an article's Talk Page where you have a COI, disclose your interest at the beginning of your post. For example: "As an employee of ExampleCorp, I wanted to share some information about..."

4. **Article Talk Page Banner:** Some wikis use specific banner templates to indicate that an article may be subject to COI editing. If such a template exists on this wiki, use it.

5. **Request Editing Assistance:** If you are unsure how to handle a potential COI, or if you want help ensuring your edits are neutral, proactively request assistance from other editors. Post a message on the Help Page or the article's talk page asking for feedback.

6. **Consider Limited Editing:** In some cases, the best course of action might be to limit your editing to specific areas where your COI is less relevant, or to focus on tasks like fixing typos or improving grammar rather than adding substantive content.


What to Do *After* Disclosure

Disclosure is not a free pass to edit without restraint. After disclosing a COI, you should:

  • **Focus on Neutrality:** Strive to present information in a balanced and objective manner. Avoid promotional language or biased phrasing.
  • **Cite Reliable Sources:** Base your edits on credible and independent sources. Avoid relying on press releases or marketing materials directly from the organization you are affiliated with. Refer to resources on Verifiability for guidance.
  • **Be Open to Feedback:** Welcome scrutiny from other editors and be willing to discuss and revise your edits based on their feedback.
  • **Avoid Editing Articles About Yourself or Your Employers:** This is generally discouraged, as it is very difficult to maintain neutrality in such cases. If you believe an edit is necessary, request it on the article's talk page and let other editors make the changes.
  • **Understand that Your Edits May Be Reviewed More Closely:** Other editors will likely pay closer attention to your contributions, and may be more likely to revert edits that appear biased.

Specific Considerations for Different Types of COI

  • **Paid Editing:** If you are being paid to edit articles, you *must* disclose this fact prominently on your user page and in every edit summary. Many jurisdictions have legal requirements regarding the disclosure of paid endorsements, and failure to comply can have serious consequences.
  • **Promotional Editing:** Attempting to promote a product or service directly is generally prohibited. Focus on providing neutral information about the topic, and let readers draw their own conclusions.
  • **Editing About Competitors:** If you work for a company, avoid editing articles about its competitors in a way that could be seen as disparaging or unfair.
  • **Editing About Political Issues:** If you have strong political beliefs, be extra careful to present information in a balanced and objective manner.

Resources and Further Reading

Strategies, Technical Analysis, Indicators, and Trends (Related Links)

These links are provided for informational purposes and do not directly relate to COI disclosure, but represent common topics within the broader knowledge domain of this wiki.

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