Plagiarism Policy

The Archives of Biotechnology and Biomedicine maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy on plagiarism. Academic integrity is the foundation of trust between authors, editors, reviewers, and readers. This Plagiarism Policy outlines our definitions, procedures, preventive measures, and corrective actions to ensure that all published content reflects genuine scholarship and ethical conduct.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, words, data, or work as one’s own without proper acknowledgment. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Direct Plagiarism: Copying text verbatim without quotation marks or citation.
• Mosaic Plagiarism: Rephrasing or rearranging phrases from a source without acknowledgment.
• Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work without citation or editorial permission.
• Data Plagiarism: Using data, figures, or images from others without credit.
• Idea Plagiarism: Presenting concepts or methods developed by others without recognition.

Prevention and Screening

Every manuscript submitted to the journal undergoes plagiarism screening using specialized detection software. This process checks for overlap with previously published literature, online content, and preprint servers. Editors and reviewers also play a critical role in identifying potential issues that software may miss.

Acceptable levels of similarity are determined case by case, considering factors such as references, methods sections, and common phrases. However, verbatim copying without attribution is never acceptable, regardless of percentage.

Author Responsibilities

Authors must:

• Ensure all content is original and properly cited.
• Quote and attribute any directly copied text.
• Obtain permissions for copyrighted figures or data.
• Avoid submitting manuscripts that overlap substantially with prior work.
• Disclose if parts of the manuscript have been published as abstracts, preprints, or in proceedings.

Failure to uphold these responsibilities constitutes misconduct and may result in sanctions.

Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

Reviewers and editors are expected to remain vigilant for signs of plagiarism, including unusual writing patterns, inconsistencies between text and references, or suspiciously familiar material. Suspected cases are investigated confidentially and fairly, following COPE guidelines.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Confirmed plagiarism may result in one or more of the following actions:

• Immediate rejection of the manuscript before publication.
• Retraction of the article if plagiarism is discovered post-publication.
• Notification of the authors’ institution, department, or funding agency.
• Blacklisting of authors from future submissions for a specified period.
• Publication of a formal notice outlining the misconduct.

Sanctions are applied proportionally, based on the severity and intent of the misconduct.

Self-Plagiarism

While building upon previous work is acceptable, authors must clearly indicate when material has been reused. Large sections of text, data, or figures reproduced from prior publications without acknowledgment are unacceptable. Self-plagiarism is particularly problematic when it leads to redundant publication or misleads readers about the novelty of research findings.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously is strictly prohibited. Likewise, dividing research results into multiple manuscripts (“salami slicing”) to artificially increase publication count is discouraged. Such practices undermine the scientific record and waste reviewer and editor resources.

Handling Allegations of Plagiarism

Allegations of plagiarism are taken seriously, regardless of the source of the complaint. When plagiarism is suspected:

1. The editorial office conducts an initial review using plagiarism detection tools.
2. If evidence is found, the corresponding author is contacted for an explanation.
3. Manuscripts may be placed on hold pending investigation.
4. If plagiarism is confirmed, appropriate sanctions are applied as outlined above.
5. All processes follow the flowcharts and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Transparency and Corrections

The journal believes in maintaining transparency in handling plagiarism cases. Corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern are clearly marked and linked to the original article. This ensures accountability while preserving the scholarly record.

Educational Approach

We recognize that some cases of poor citation practices stem from lack of awareness rather than intent to deceive. For minor infractions, especially involving early-career researchers, the journal may adopt an educational approach, providing feedback and guidance to prevent recurrence. However, repeated or deliberate misconduct is not tolerated.

Commitment to Best Practices

The journal’s plagiarism policy is aligned with best practices in academic publishing and updated regularly to reflect emerging challenges in scholarly communication. By enforcing this policy, we protect authors’ intellectual property, uphold reader trust, and preserve the integrity of the scientific record.