Journal of Cyber Law

Plagiarism Policy

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity, originality, and quality of scholarly publications. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, text recycling, data fabrication, data falsification, and inappropriate reuse of previously published materials are not acceptable.

Plagiarism refers to the use, close imitation, or presentation of another author's language, ideas, data, figures, tables, images, or research findings as one's own work without proper acknowledgment. All submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration by another journal.

1. Originality Requirement

• Submitted manuscripts must be original works of the author(s).
• The manuscript must not have been previously published in whole or in substantial part.
• The manuscript must not be under review or under consideration by another journal or publisher.
• All sources used in the manuscript must be properly cited and included in the reference list.
• Authors must ensure that all data, findings, arguments, and interpretations are presented honestly and accurately.

2. Use of Previously Published Materials

Any material taken from another source must be clearly identified and properly cited. This includes text, figures, tables, images, diagrams, data, instruments, methods, or other scholarly materials.

• Direct quotations must be placed within quotation marks or formatted as block quotations when appropriate.
• The original source must be clearly cited.
• Reproduced figures, tables, or images must include proper attribution and permission when required.
• Materials protected by copyright must not be reused without permission from the copyright holder, unless permitted by the applicable license or law.

3. Similarity Checking

All submitted manuscripts may be checked using similarity-checking software such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or other appropriate tools. Similarity reports are used by the editorial team to help identify possible plagiarism, excessive text overlap, duplicate publication, or improper reuse of published materials.

A high similarity score does not automatically mean plagiarism, and a low similarity score does not automatically guarantee originality. The editorial team will evaluate the similarity report based on context, source type, quotation practices, citation accuracy, and the nature of the overlap.

4. Levels of Plagiarism and Editorial Actions

When plagiarism or improper reuse is detected, the editorial team will determine the appropriate action based on the extent, nature, and seriousness of the case.

Minor Plagiarism

Minor plagiarism may involve a small amount of copied text without proper citation, without taking substantial ideas, data, results, or conclusions from another source.

• The authors may receive a warning.
• The authors may be asked to revise the text, add proper citation, or correct quotation formatting.
• The manuscript may continue in the editorial process after satisfactory correction.

Intermediate Plagiarism

Intermediate plagiarism may involve a significant portion of copied text, repeated paraphrasing without proper citation, inappropriate reuse of figures or tables, or substantial overlap with another publication without adequate acknowledgment.

• The manuscript may be rejected.
• The authors may be prohibited from submitting new manuscripts to the journal for a defined period.
• The authors' institution or relevant parties may be informed when necessary.

Severe Plagiarism

Severe plagiarism may involve the reproduction of substantial parts of another work, copying original results or ideas, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate publication, or deliberate misrepresentation of another person's work as the authors' own work.

• The manuscript will be rejected if the case is identified before publication.
• If the article has already been published, it may be retracted.
• The authors may be prohibited from submitting new manuscripts to the journal for an extended period.
• The authors' institution, funding body, or other relevant parties may be notified when appropriate.

5. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse their own previously published text, data, figures, tables, or ideas without proper citation or disclosure. Authors must clearly identify and cite any previously published material used in a new manuscript.

• Previously published text must be cited and should not be reused excessively.
• Previously published figures, tables, or data must be cited and may require permission from the copyright holder.
• Authors must explain how the new manuscript differs from their previous publications when there is related or overlapping work.
• Substantial overlap with the authors' own previous work may lead to rejection or further ethical review.

6. Duplicate Submission and Duplicate Publication

Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time. Duplicate submission and duplicate publication are considered serious publication ethics violations.

• If a manuscript is found to be under consideration by another journal, the submission may be rejected.
• If substantial overlap with another submitted or published manuscript is identified, the case may be treated as plagiarism or duplicate publication.
• The editor of the other journal or publisher may be contacted when necessary.

7. Conference Papers and Expanded Versions

A manuscript based on a conference paper may be considered only if it has been substantially expanded, properly cited, and clearly identified as an extended version of the earlier work. Authors must disclose the original conference publication during submission.

• The title, venue, and date of the conference publication should be provided.
• The manuscript must contain substantial new content, analysis, findings, or discussion.
• Permission to reuse copyrighted material must be obtained when required.
• The editor may reject the manuscript if the overlap with the conference version is too high.

8. Translated Publications

A manuscript that has been published previously in another language must not be submitted as a new original article without clear disclosure. Translated publications may be considered only when the original publication is clearly identified and permission has been obtained when required.

• The title, journal or publisher, date, and language of the original publication must be disclosed.
• The original source must be cited.
• Copyright permission must be obtained when necessary.
• The editor will decide whether the translated manuscript is appropriate for consideration.

9. Author Responsibility

All authors are responsible for the content of the submitted manuscript. By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that they have read and understood the journal's plagiarism policy and publication ethics requirements.

• All authors share responsibility for plagiarism or ethical violations found in the manuscript.
• The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring that all co-authors approve the submission.
• Authors must cooperate with the editorial team during any investigation of suspected plagiarism or misconduct.
• If plagiarism is confirmed, all authors may be subject to the editorial action determined by the journal.

10. Handling Repeated Violations

If repeated plagiarism or publication misconduct is identified involving the same author or group of authors, the editorial board may impose stricter sanctions. These may include rejection of the manuscript, temporary or permanent prohibition from submitting to the journal, notification to the authors' institution, or retraction of published articles when applicable.

11. Reporting Plagiarism Concerns

Readers, reviewers, authors, editors, or third parties may report suspected plagiarism or publication misconduct to the editorial office. All reports will be reviewed carefully and handled in accordance with the journal's publication ethics policy and accepted scholarly publishing standards.