1. POLICY STATEMENT

The Journal Computer and Technology (E-ISSN: 3048-1880), published by Ninety Media Publisher, is committed to maintaining the originality, integrity, and ethical standards of scholarly publications.

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling, duplicate publication, or any other form of misappropriation of intellectual contributions.

This policy is guided by the principles and recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its guidance on handling suspected plagiarism in submitted and published articles.

All manuscripts submitted to the journal must represent original scholarly work, properly acknowledge the contributions of others, and comply with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

2. DEFINITION OF PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, findings, images, code, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment, presenting them as one's own work.

Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to:

• Direct plagiarism: Copying text or other materials from another source without appropriate quotation, attribution, or permission where required.
• Paraphrasing plagiarism: Rewriting another person's ideas or arguments without properly acknowledging the original source.
• Mosaic plagiarism: Combining copied or closely paraphrased material from multiple sources without appropriate attribution.
• Plagiarism of ideas: Presenting another person's research ideas, methods, findings, or intellectual contributions as one's own.
• Data and image plagiarism: Using another person's data, figures, tables, images, or visual materials without proper acknowledgment or permission where required.
• Code plagiarism: Reproducing substantial portions of another person's source code or software without appropriate attribution or compliance with applicable licensing requirements.

The journal also considers inappropriate text recycling, redundant publication, and undisclosed duplicate submissions as potential publication ethics violations.

3. SIMILARITY SCREENING

All manuscripts submitted to the Journal Computer and Technology are subject to similarity screening using Turnitin.

The screening process is conducted by the editorial team to identify textual overlap with previously published articles, books, conference proceedings, theses, dissertations, websites, and other available sources.

Initial Screening

During the initial editorial assessment, the editor conducts a similarity check before the manuscript proceeds to peer review.

Authors are encouraged to conduct their own similarity screening before submission and may provide a Turnitin similarity report as supporting documentation.

However, an author-provided report does not replace the journal's independent editorial screening.

The editorial team reviews the similarity report to assess the originality of the manuscript and identify potentially problematic overlap.

Similarity Screening After Revision

Manuscripts that undergo substantial revision may be screened again to ensure that the revised content continues to comply with the journal's originality requirements.

The editorial team may request an updated similarity report from the authors or conduct an additional screening when necessary.

Final Screening Before Publication

After the peer review and revision processes have been completed, the editor conducts a final similarity screening of the accepted manuscript before publication.

The final screening is intended to ensure that the published version complies with the journal's similarity requirements and does not contain inappropriate textual overlap introduced during revision.

The journal reserves the right to delay publication or reconsider acceptance when substantial similarity or suspected plagiarism is identified at this stage.

4. SIMILARITY THRESHOLD AND EDITORIAL ASSESSMENT

The journal establishes a maximum overall similarity index of 20% for submitted manuscripts.

The similarity index is an editorial screening threshold and is not, by itself, a definitive determination of plagiarism.

The editorial team evaluates similarity reports by considering:

• The overall similarity percentage.
• The sources and distribution of matching text.
• The extent and location of the overlapping material.
• Whether the material has been properly cited or acknowledged.
• Whether the overlap involves the authors' previous publications.
• Whether the similarity affects the originality or integrity of the manuscript.

Similarity arising from properly cited quotations, reference lists, common terminology, and standard methodological descriptions may be considered legitimate when appropriately used and acknowledged.

Where appropriate, the editorial team may exclude bibliographic references and properly quoted material from the similarity assessment to obtain a more meaningful evaluation of the manuscript's originality.

A similarity score of 20% or below does not automatically establish that a manuscript is free from plagiarism.

Conversely, a similarity score exceeding 20% does not automatically prove plagiarism. However, manuscripts exceeding the journal's threshold must undergo further editorial assessment and may be returned for revision or rejected.

The final determination regarding plagiarism and acceptable textual similarity rests with the editorial team.

5. EDITORIAL ACTIONS

The editorial team determines the appropriate action based on the nature, extent, context, and seriousness of the identified similarities.

Similarity Above 20% Without Substantial Plagiarism

When the similarity index exceeds 20% and the identified overlap does not indicate serious misconduct, the editor may:

1. Return the manuscript to the authors for revision.
2. Request appropriate paraphrasing, citation, acknowledgment, or clarification.
3. Request an updated Turnitin similarity report.
4. Conduct another similarity screening after revision.

The revised manuscript must meet the journal's similarity requirements before proceeding to further editorial consideration.

Substantial or Unattributed Plagiarism

When the similarity report or other evidence indicates substantial unattributed copying, inappropriate reuse of published material, or misrepresentation of another person's intellectual contributions, the editor may reject the manuscript.

The journal may also request an explanation from the authors before making a final decision.

Serious or suspected cases of research misconduct will be handled in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and relevant COPE guidance.

Repeated or Deliberate Misconduct

Where evidence indicates repeated or deliberate plagiarism, duplicate publication, or other serious ethical violations, the journal may reject the manuscript and consider further appropriate action.

Such action may include referral to the relevant institution or research organization when justified by the circumstances and supporting evidence.

6. AUTHORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

Authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts are original and that all sources of information are appropriately cited.

By submitting a manuscript, authors confirm that:

• The submitted work is original and has not been published previously in a form that constitutes redundant publication.
• The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
• All borrowed ideas, words, data, figures, tables, and other materials are appropriately acknowledged.
• Any relevant overlap with their previous publications or related manuscripts has been disclosed.
• The manuscript complies with the journal's plagiarism and publication ethics policies.

Authors must cooperate with editorial requests for clarification, supporting documentation, revised manuscripts, or additional similarity screening.

7. TEXT RECYCLING AND PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS

The journal recognizes that limited textual overlap may occur when authors describe established research procedures, standard terminology, or previously reported research contexts.

However, authors must not reuse substantial portions of previously published work in a manner that misrepresents the originality of the submitted manuscript.

Authors must disclose relevant overlap with their previous publications, including conference papers, preprints, theses, dissertations, and related journal articles, where applicable.

The editorial team assesses such overlap by considering its extent, location, attribution, and implications for the originality of the research.

The journal may reject manuscripts involving substantial redundant publication or inappropriate text recycling.

8. HANDLING SUSPECTED PLAGIARISM IN PUBLISHED ARTICLES

If plagiarism or other inappropriate textual overlap is suspected after publication, the journal will investigate the concern in accordance with its Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement and relevant COPE guidance.

The journal may contact the corresponding author, examine the available evidence, and consult the relevant institution or other appropriate parties when necessary.

Depending on the findings and their implications for the scholarly record, the journal may publish a correction, issue an expression of concern, or retract the article.

Any corrective action will be based on the seriousness of the violation and the reliability of the published work.

9. CONFIDENTIALITY AND EDITORIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Similarity reports and related editorial assessments are treated as confidential documents.

The editorial team is responsible for interpreting similarity reports, assessing suspected plagiarism, and determining appropriate editorial action.

The journal will handle allegations fairly and provide authors with an opportunity to respond to substantive concerns before a final decision is made, where appropriate.

The journal will not make public allegations of plagiarism before an appropriate assessment has been completed.

10. POLICY REVIEW

The journal periodically reviews this policy to ensure that it remains consistent with international standards of scholarly publishing and applicable COPE guidance.

The journal may revise its procedures when necessary to address developments in similarity-detection technology, scholarly communication, and publication ethics.

References

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Core Practices. https://publicationethics.org/core-practices

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Suspected plagiarism in a submitted manuscript. https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Flowcharts

Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Suspected plagiarism in a published article. https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Flowcharts