Plagiarism Policy
Journal Information
Plagiarism Policy
Biotechnology Frontiers: An International Journal (ISSN 3117-5791) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical publishing practices. Plagiarism in any form is a serious violation of research ethics and will not be tolerated by the journal.
1. Definition of Plagiarism
Plagiarism occurs when an author presents another person’s ideas, data, or words as their own without proper attribution. This includes, but is not limited to:
Direct Plagiarism: Copying text, figures, tables, or data verbatim without appropriate citation.
Mosaic Plagiarism: Using ideas, phrases, or sentence structures from a source without acknowledgment.
Self-Plagiarism: Republishing significant portions of one’s previously published work without disclosure.
Data/Results Plagiarism: Using another researcher’s data, graphs, or images without permission or citation.
Improper Paraphrasing: Rewriting material from sources in a way that closely mimics the original without proper referencing.
2. Plagiarism Detection
All submitted manuscripts undergo a plagiarism check using advanced similarity detection software (such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or equivalent tools). The editorial team carefully reviews similarity reports, differentiating between legitimate overlaps (technical terms, references, methodology descriptions) and unethical copying.
3. Acceptable Similarity Index
The acceptable similarity score must not exceed 15–20% (excluding references, author details, and standard terminology).
Manuscripts with higher similarity may be returned for revision or rejected outright depending on severity.
4. Consequences of Plagiarism
Plagiarism identified at any stage of the publication process will result in strict action:
- Before Acceptance: Immediate rejection of the manuscript.
- After Acceptance but Before Publication: Withdrawal of the manuscript from review/production.
- After Publication: Retraction of the article, with a retraction notice published online.
Additional actions may include:
- Blacklisting of authors from future submissions.
- Notification of the authors’ affiliated institutions and funding agencies.
5. Author Responsibilities
Authors submitting to Biotechnology Frontiers are expected to:
- Submit original research and ensure proper citation of all sources.
- Use quotation marks and references for directly quoted material.
- Avoid duplicate submissions or overlapping publications.
- Disclose related or previously submitted work transparently.
6. Editorial and Reviewer Responsibilities
Reviewers must report suspected plagiarism to the editorial office.
Editors will verify plagiarism reports and make impartial decisions following COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) guidelines.
7. Self-Plagiarism Policy
Authors must avoid submitting manuscripts that substantially overlap with their previously published work.
Reuse of methods, literature reviews, or background material must be appropriately cited.
Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals is strictly prohibited.
8. Appeals and Clarifications
Authors who contest a plagiarism decision may submit a written appeal to the Editorial Office. Appeals will be reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief and the Ethics Committee, and their decision will be final.