July 18, 2023

Suspected Plagiarism in a Published Document

Suspected Plagiarism in a Published Document

What the journal will do if plagiarism is suspected in a published manuscript:

1. A reader reports a potential irregularity regarding plagiarism.

2. Thank the reader and inform them that an investigation will be conducted. Editors will investigate and gather complete documentary evidence if not already provided.

3. Verify whether the irregularities raised by the reader(s) are substantiated:

3.1) If no irregularities are found:
3.1.1) Inform the readers that no irregularities exist.

3.2) If minor irregularities are found:
3.2.1) Inform the author of the irregularities and request that the plagiarized information be removed or modified.
3.2.2) Notify other readers of the journal about the plagiarism activity, remove the version containing the plagiarized content, and include the corrected version in a new release.

3.3) If significant irregularities are found:

3.3.1) Negative scenario:
3.3.1.1) Notify the author of the irregularity regarding plagiarism in the published work.
3.3.1.1.1) If the author does not respond, send another letter emphasizing the irregularity. If the author continues not to respond, delete the article from the journal and notify readers about the issue and the progress of the investigation.

3.3.2) Positive scenario:
3.3.2.1) Notify the author of the irregularity regarding plagiarism in the publication.
3.3.2.2) If the author responds acknowledging the irregularity, inform them that the manuscript will be completely removed from the journal. However, they may have a new opportunity to submit to the journal, provided the issues are addressed.

3.3.3) Notify readers about the decision taken and the progress of the investigation.

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