Plagiarism and Similarity Check Policy

Plagiarism and Similarity Check Policy for IJIMAS

The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Applied Sciences (IJIMAS) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and originality in all submitted works. Authors submitting articles to IJIMAS are required to adhere to the following plagiarism and similarity check policy, in alignment with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) guidelines, and the plagiarism policy of the London Medical and Applied Sciences School (LOMNAS).

1. Plagiarism Policy and Author Responsibility

  • Authors submitting articles to IJIMAS are solely responsible for the originality of their work. All content must be free from any form of plagiarism, including self-plagiarism and AI-generated or copied materials.
  • Plagiarism is defined as the use of another's work, ideas, or expressions without proper attribution or citation, including verbatim copying, paraphrasing, or using data without acknowledgment.
  • AI-generated content must be declared explicitly, and its usage must align with IJIMAS’s ethical research guidelines. Misrepresentation of AI-generated or manipulated content is strictly prohibited.

2. Similarity Check Requirements

All submitted articles must undergo a similarity check by the author before submission. The following guidelines apply:

  1. Pre-Submission Requirements:

    • Authors must upload a similarity report generated from one of the following recognized tools:
      • Crossref Similarity Check
      • Turnitin
      • iThenticate
    • The similarity report must accompany the manuscript at the time of submission.

  2. Threshold for Acceptance:

    • Articles with an overall similarity rate exceeding 15% will be rejected outright and returned to the author without proceeding to the peer-review process.
    • The similarity rate from any single source must be below 4%.

  3. Opportunity for Revision:

    • Articles exceeding the allowed similarity thresholds may be revised and resubmitted by the authors within three weeks of receiving feedback from the editorial team.

  4. Checks During Peer Review:

    • Subject editors and reviewers may conduct additional similarity checks at any stage of the review process to ensure compliance with the journal’s originality standards.

3. Handling of Detected Plagiarism or Improper Attribution

If any similarity in expressions, blocks of text, or data from external sources is detected without proper attribution, regardless of the similarity rate, the article will be:

  • Returned to the author for correction and proper citation before it enters the evaluation process.
  • If the issue is identified after publication, the article may be withdrawn from the journal's archives pending a thorough investigation.

4. Third-Party Claims of Copyright Infringement or Misuse

  • Should a third party allege a violation of copyright or intellectual property rights regarding a published article, the publication will be temporarily suspended until the matter is resolved.
  • During this period, the article will be removed from online platforms, and the editorial team will conduct a detailed investigation.
  • IJIMAS will not be held responsible for any copyright violations. Responsibility for the content lies entirely with the submitting author(s).

5. Protection of Author and Reviewer Data under GDPR and ICO Guidelines

  • IJIMAS ensures compliance with UK GDPR and ICO regulations in handling personal and sensitive data submitted during the publication process.
  • Authors and reviewers' data, including similarity reports and correspondence, will be stored securely and used solely for editorial purposes.
  • Authors must ensure that all research materials, including images, data, and charts, comply with GDPR regulations when involving personal data of research participants.

6. Consequences of Non-Compliance

  • Articles that fail to meet the above requirements will not proceed to publication.
  • Misconduct involving falsified data, plagiarism, or unreported AI-generated content may result in a lifetime ban from submitting to IJIMAS.

Contact for Issues Related to Plagiarism or Similarity Checks

For queries or further assistance, contact:
IJIMAS Editorial Office
Email: editor@ijimas.com

IJIMAS remains committed to ensuring ethical academic publishing and fostering a culture of integrity and originality. By submitting an article, authors acknowledge and accept the terms of this policy.