Can a person under the age of 18 be an author in a scientific article or book, and if so, what kind of problems could arise in terms of publishing and ethics?1. Although the age limit of 18 in the copyright agreement poses a problem in terms of legal capacity, the guardian signs the copyright agreement, but the guardian’s consent is required for approval. However, this is not mandatory.
2. In view of the possibility of a conflict of interest arising in the future, a separate letter should be requested for the guardian’s signature or approval.
3. Similarly, if an ethics committee decision is to be taken, it would be much more appropriate to include the guardian’s approval in the ethics committee application file.
4. In scientific articles, what matters is that if the article’s method and content are sound, a person under the age of 18 can be an author without any problems. (The logic being that wisdom comes from experience, not age).
5. This will not pose a significant problem in terms of academic merit either.
6. Only when an ORCID number, etc., is required for international portals and systems, and the applicant must be over 18 years of age, can this requirement be met with the guardian’s consent.
7. In books, it is essential to see the guardian’s signature or consent on the copyright agreement, especially for books with a single author.
