Plagiarism Policy

The Annals of Proteomics and Bioinformatics (APB) maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism and academic misconduct. All submitted manuscripts undergo comprehensive plagiarism screening using advanced detection tools to ensure originality, transparency, and ethical publishing standards.

APB follows the COPE (Committee on Publication Ethics) and ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) guidelines for ethical publishing, ensuring that every article represents the author’s genuine and original contribution to science.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the act of using someone else’s words, data, figures, or ideas without proper acknowledgment. This includes both deliberate and unintentional copying. APB identifies plagiarism as any instance in which previously published or unpublished content is presented as original without due credit to the source.

Common types of plagiarism include:

  • Direct plagiarism: Copying text verbatim from another source without citation.
  • Self-plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously published work or substantial portions of it without acknowledgment or permission.
  • Mosaic plagiarism: Paraphrasing sentences or ideas too closely from another work.
  • Image or data plagiarism: Using figures, graphs, or data sets without authorization or attribution.

2. Plagiarism Detection Procedure

Every manuscript submitted to APB is screened for plagiarism before entering the peer-review process. The journal utilizes standard plagiarism detection software such as iThenticate, Turnitin, and Grammarly Premium to identify overlapping text and potential duplication.

  • Plagiarism reports are reviewed by the editorial office and verified manually for context and citation accuracy.
  • Minor similarity (below 10%) is generally acceptable if due to technical terms, references, or standard phrases.
  • Similarity above 15–20% requires author clarification or revision before peer review proceeds.
  • Submissions with extensive copying (>25%) are rejected outright.

3. Editorial Actions and Consequences

If plagiarism is detected at any stage—submission, review, or post-publication—the journal will take strict actions depending on the severity and intent. These may include:

  • Rejection of the manuscript.
  • Notification to the author(s) and affiliated institutions.
  • Blacklisting of authors for future submissions to APB.
  • Retraction of the article if plagiarism is discovered post-publication.
  • Publication of a formal notice of retraction or correction.

All such cases are handled in accordance with COPE’s Retraction Guidelines and the publisher’s ethical policies.

4. Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their submissions are original and properly cited. They must:

  • Attribute all borrowed ideas, figures, or data to the original source.
  • Obtain permission for reuse of copyrighted materials.
  • Ensure the manuscript has not been submitted or published elsewhere.
  • Check their work using plagiarism detection software before submission.

All authors must sign a Declaration of Originality upon submission confirming that the manuscript is free from plagiarism.

5. Reviewer and Editor Responsibilities

Reviewers and editors play a crucial role in maintaining ethical standards. They are expected to:

  • Alert the editorial office if plagiarism or unethical practices are suspected.
  • Maintain confidentiality during and after the peer-review process.
  • Assess similarities fairly, distinguishing between legitimate citation and unethical copying.

6. Similarity Thresholds

APB considers manuscripts acceptable when the similarity index meets the following criteria:

Similarity Percentage Editorial Decision
0% – 10% Acceptable — likely due to common terminology or citations.
10% – 20% Requires revision and proper citation before review.
20% – 25% Requires detailed editorial evaluation or rejection.
Above 25% Rejected — identified as potential plagiarism.

7. Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Submission

Self-plagiarism and duplicate submissions undermine the integrity of scholarly communication. Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously. Republishing identical or substantially similar work in different outlets is considered unethical.

Reuse of methods or background text from an author’s previous work must include explicit references to the original publication.

8. Handling Allegations Post-Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication, APB follows COPE’s recommended course of action:

  • Conduct an investigation in consultation with the authors and reviewers.
  • Publish an erratum or corrigendum for minor overlaps.
  • Retract the article for confirmed plagiarism.
  • Notify the author’s institution and funding agency.

Retraction notices remain linked to the original article and are permanently accessible in the journal archive.

9. Preventive Measures

APB fosters an ethical publication culture through awareness and education. The editorial team encourages authors to use plagiarism-checking tools prior to submission and to follow citation management practices consistently.

Educational articles on ethics and citation practices are periodically published on the journal website to guide authors and researchers.

10. Policy Revision

This Plagiarism Policy is reviewed annually to align with new COPE recommendations and advances in plagiarism detection technology. Revisions are communicated to the APB community via the journal website.

11. Contact Information

For questions or reporting suspected plagiarism, contact:

© 2025 Annals of Proteomics and Bioinformatics (APB) · Heighten Sciences Publication Incorporation

Source Reference: Based on COPE, ICMJE, WAME, and Elsevier plagiarism detection standards.