Plagiarism Policy

The International Journal of Legal Studies, Institutions, and Governance (IJLSIG) is committed to maintaining originality, academic integrity, and respect for intellectual property rights. IJLSIG does not tolerate plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, or any other form of improper appropriation of another person’s work.

1. General Principle

The International Journal of Legal Studies, Institutions, and Governance (IJLSIG) is committed to maintaining originality, academic integrity, and respect for intellectual property rights.

IJLSIG does not tolerate plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, redundant publication, or any other form of improper appropriation of another person’s work.

All authors are responsible for ensuring that their manuscripts constitute original scholarly work and that every idea, argument, quotation, legal opinion, data set, table, figure, image, or other material derived from another source is appropriately acknowledged.

2. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, ideas, arguments, research findings, data, images, tables, figures, or other intellectual contributions without proper acknowledgement, thereby presenting such material as the author’s own work.

Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally. An author’s lack of knowledge concerning citation practices does not eliminate responsibility for improper use of another person’s work.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

1. copying text verbatim without quotation marks and proper citation;
2. paraphrasing another person’s work without acknowledging the original source;
3. changing individual words or sentence structures while retaining the substance of the original source without attribution;
4. combining material from multiple sources without proper acknowledgement, commonly known as mosaic plagiarism;
5. using another person’s ideas, theories, arguments, legal analysis, research design, or findings without proper citation;
6. reproducing data, tables, figures, images, diagrams, or other materials without acknowledgement or permission where required;
7. translating material from another language and presenting it as original work without citing the original source;
8. citing a secondary source as though the author had directly consulted the original source;
9. providing false, misleading, incomplete, or fabricated citations;
10. using translation, paraphrasing, or generative artificial intelligence tools to disguise copied material; and
11. submitting work prepared substantially by another person without proper disclosure.

3. Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse substantial portions of their previously published work without appropriate citation or disclosure.

Authors must cite their relevant previous publications and clearly disclose any overlap between the submitted manuscript and their earlier work.

Limited reuse of standard methodological descriptions may be permitted where scientifically or legally necessary, provided that:

1. the earlier source is properly cited;
2. the reused material is not misleadingly presented as new;
3. the reuse does not violate copyright or licensing terms; and
4. the manuscript contains sufficient original analysis and contribution.

Prohibition: Authors must not divide one research project into several minimally different manuscripts merely to increase the number of publications. This practice, commonly known as salami publication, is strictly prohibited.

4. Duplicate and Redundant Publication

Authors must not submit or publish the same or substantially similar manuscript in more than one journal.

A manuscript will be considered a duplicate or redundant publication where it substantially reproduces the research question, data, analysis, findings, or conclusions of another work without sufficient disclosure, justification, and citation.

The following circumstances must be disclosed to the Editorial Team at the time of submission:

1. an earlier conference paper or working paper derived from the same research;
2. a manuscript developed from a thesis or dissertation;
3. a preprint or institutional repository version;
4. another manuscript derived from the same data set;
5. a previous publication in another language; or
6. any other publication that substantially overlaps with the submitted manuscript.

Disclosure does not automatically disqualify a manuscript. The Editorial Team will determine whether the submitted work contains sufficient originality and complies with copyright and publication ethics requirements.

5. Similarity Screening

Every manuscript submitted to IJLSIG will be screened using Turnitin or equivalent similarity-detection software.

Similarity screening may be conducted:

1. during the initial editorial assessment;
2. after the manuscript has been revised;
3. before final publication; and
4. after publication where a credible concern is reported.

A similarity index of 20 per cent or less does not automatically establish that a manuscript is free from plagiarism. Conversely, a similarity index exceeding 20 per cent does not, by itself, conclusively establish plagiarism.

The Editorial Team will examine:

1. the source of each match;
2. the amount and concentration of the matching text;
3. whether the source has been properly cited;
4. whether quotation marks or block quotations have been used where required;
5. whether ideas, data, or arguments have been improperly appropriated;
6. whether the similarity occurs in the substantive analysis or only in standard terminology; and
7. whether there is evidence of deliberate concealment.

The final determination will therefore be based on academic and editorial judgement, not solely on the numerical similarity score.

6. Authors’ Responsibilities

Before submitting a manuscript, authors must:

1. ensure that the manuscript is original;
2. properly cite every source used;
3. place verbatim material within quotation marks or an appropriate block quotation;
4. obtain permission to reproduce copyrighted material where required;
5. disclose any overlap with earlier publications;
6. retain the research materials and sources necessary to verify the manuscript;
7. ensure that all references are authentic, accurate, and accessible; and
8. review the manuscript for possible plagiarism and improper text recycling.

All authors share responsibility for the integrity of the manuscript. The corresponding author must ensure that every co-author has reviewed and approved the final version before submission.

7. Plagiarism Detected Before Publication

Where possible plagiarism is identified before publication, the Editorial Team will examine the relevant manuscript, similarity report, original sources, and any supporting evidence.

The Editorial Team may temporarily suspend the review or publication process while the matter is examined.

The handling of the manuscript will depend on the nature and seriousness of the overlap.

7.1. Limited and Correctable Overlap

Where the overlap is limited, does not concern the principal findings, and appears capable of correction, the authors may be required to:

1. rewrite the affected sections;
2. add the necessary citations;
3. use quotation marks or block quotations;
4. remove improperly reproduced material;
5. provide documentary clarification; and
6. resubmit the manuscript for another similarity screening.

Permission to revise does not prevent the Editorial Team from rejecting the manuscript if the authors fail to provide a satisfactory correction.

7.2. Substantial or Serious Plagiarism

Where substantial plagiarism affects the manuscript’s core arguments, analysis, findings, data, or originality, the manuscript may be rejected.

The Editorial Team may also:

1. notify all authors of the findings;
2. request a written explanation;
3. inform the authors’ institution, employer, research supervisor, funding body, or other competent authority where reasonably necessary;
4. notify the copyright holder or the editor of the affected publication;
5. restrict further submissions by the responsible author for a period determined by the Editorial Team; and
6. take other proportionate measures consistent with publication ethics.

7.3. Repeated or Deliberately Concealed Plagiarism

Repeated plagiarism, fabricated citations, disguised copying, translated plagiarism, or the use of technological tools to conceal copied material will be treated as serious publication misconduct. Such conduct may result in immediate rejection and referral to the relevant institution or authority.

8. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

Allegations of plagiarism concerning a published article will be examined promptly, fairly, and confidentially.

The Editorial Team will:

1. document the allegation and supporting evidence;
2. compare the published article with the allegedly copied source;
3. contact the corresponding author and, where appropriate, all co-authors;
4. provide the authors with an opportunity to respond;
5. consult independent experts where necessary; and
6. determine the appropriate editorial action based on the seriousness and extent of the plagiarism.

Depending on the findings, IJLSIG may:

1. publish a correction for limited unattributed material that does not invalidate the article’s principal findings;
2. publish an expression of concern while an investigation is ongoing;
3. retract the article where plagiarism is substantial or materially affects its originality, reliability, or copyright status;
4. amend the article’s online record and metadata;
5. notify the authors’ institution, employer, funding body, or another competent authority;
6. notify the affected author, publisher, journal, or copyright holder; and
7. impose proportionate restrictions on future submissions.

A retracted article will remain accessible as part of the scholarly record but will be clearly identified as retracted. Post-publication actions will be undertaken in accordance with the IJLSIG Retraction and Correction Policy.

9. Investigation and Right of Response

A plagiarism allegation must be supported by sufficient information to allow the Editorial Team to identify the allegedly copied material and its source.

The Editorial Team will communicate the concern objectively and will not make a final finding solely on the basis of an allegation.

The authors will normally be given 14 calendar days to provide a written explanation and supporting evidence. An extension may be granted where reasonably justified.

Failure to respond within the specified period will not prevent the Editorial Team from deciding the matter based on the available evidence.

The Editorial Team is responsible for assessing the publication and determining the appropriate editorial action. Where institutional investigation is required, IJLSIG may refer the matter to the authors’ institution or another competent authority.

10. Reports from Reviewers and Readers

Reviewers, editors, authors, and readers are encouraged to report suspected plagiarism or duplicate publication.

A report should, where possible, contain:

1. the title and identifying information of the IJLSIG manuscript or article;
2. the source allegedly copied;
3. the relevant pages, paragraphs, tables, figures, or passages;
4. a description of the alleged overlap; and
5. any other supporting evidence.

A person reporting a concern in good faith will be treated respectfully. IJLSIG will endeavour to protect the confidentiality of the reporting person to the extent permitted by the circumstances and applicable law.

Knowingly false, malicious, or retaliatory allegations may themselves constitute misconduct.

11. Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest

Plagiarism allegations, investigation materials, author responses, and editorial deliberations will be treated as confidential.

An editor who has a conflict of interest concerning the authors, complainant, source publication, or subject matter must withdraw from the investigation and decision-making process.

The matter will be assigned to another qualified editor or an independent person appointed by the publisher.

12. Editorial Decision and Appeal

The Editor-in-Chief makes the final editorial decision based on:

1. the similarity report;
2. the nature and extent of the copied material;
3. the original sources;
4. the authors’ explanation;
5. any independent expert opinion;
6. the effect of the misconduct on the article’s originality and reliability; and
7. the need to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Authors may submit a reasoned appeal if they believe that the decision was based on a material factual or procedural error.

An appeal must identify the contested finding and provide supporting evidence. Mere disagreement with the editorial judgement is not sufficient. Appeals will be handled in accordance with the IJLSIG Complaints and Appeals Policy.

13. Relationship with Other IJLSIG Policies

This Plagiarism Policy must be read together with the following IJLSIG policies:

Where a plagiarism case also involves fabricated data, authorship misconduct, copyright infringement, undisclosed conflict of interest, or manipulation of the publication process, the Editorial Team may apply more than one IJLSIG policy simultaneously.