Plagiarism Policy

Purpose

The JSOMER is committed to protecting intellectual property, ensuring appropriate attribution, and publishing original scholarly work.

This policy defines plagiarism and establishes the journal’s procedures for:

identifying potentially unattributed overlap;
evaluating author-supplied similarity reports;
distinguishing textual similarity from plagiarism;
managing inappropriate paraphrasing;
evaluating reuse of authors’ previously disseminated material;
addressing plagiarism identified before publication; and
correcting the scholarly record when plagiarism is identified after publication.

This policy applies to all manuscripts, article types, supplementary materials, peer-review documents, revisions, and other scholarly content submitted to or published by JSOMER.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism occurs when an individual uses another person’s words, ideas, arguments, hypotheses, methods, data, findings, images, tables, figures, code, translations, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment and presents them as original or independently produced.

Plagiarism may occur intentionally, recklessly, or through serious failure to follow appropriate scholarly attribution practices.

A finding of plagiarism does not depend only on whether copied words are identical. Plagiarism may also involve the appropriation of ideas, structure, data, results, or other intellectual contributions even when the wording has been changed.

Forms of Plagiarism

Plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, the following practices.

2.1 Direct Plagiarism

Direct plagiarism occurs when text is copied verbatim or nearly verbatim from another source without:

quotation marks or block quotation formatting where required;
accurate citation;
clear acknowledgment of the original source; and
permission where copyright or licensing conditions require it.

Providing a citation at the end of a substantially copied passage does not necessarily make the copying acceptable. Verbatim material must be identified clearly as quotation and used proportionately.

2.2 Mosaic or Patchwork Plagiarism

Mosaic or patchwork plagiarism occurs when words, phrases, sentences, or ideas from one or more sources are combined into new text without adequate acknowledgment.

This may include:

combining copied fragments from several sources;
changing only a small number of words;
preserving the sentence structure of the original;
rearranging copied sentences;
replacing words with synonyms while retaining the underlying expression; or
assembling a manuscript from multiple unattributed sources.

A low similarity score does not exclude mosaic plagiarism because copied material may be distributed across many sources or altered superficially.

2.3 Inappropriate Paraphrasing

Paraphrasing requires authors to express the source material genuinely in their own scholarly language and to cite the original source.

Inappropriate paraphrasing may include:

changing only isolated words;
retaining the source’s sentence structure;
preserving distinctive wording or organization;
reproducing an argument too closely;
translating a passage and presenting it as original; or
citing a source without clearly distinguishing the source’s contribution from the author’s own analysis.

A citation alone does not make a passage an acceptable paraphrase when the wording or structure remains substantially dependent on the original source.

2.4 Idea Plagiarism

Idea plagiarism occurs when an author presents another person’s original idea, theory, hypothesis, interpretation, analytical framework, research design, argument, or unpublished insight without appropriate acknowledgment.

Idea plagiarism may occur even when no substantial textual overlap exists.

Authors must acknowledge the intellectual origin of ideas obtained from:

published sources;
conference presentations;
grant proposals;
peer-review materials;
private correspondence;
research meetings;
unpublished manuscripts;
theses and dissertations;
teaching materials; or
other scholarly communications.

2.5 Data and Results Plagiarism

Data and results plagiarism occurs when an individual uses or presents another person’s data, observations, findings, calculations, statistical results, interview material, or analytical output without authorization and appropriate acknowledgment.

Authors must not:

present another researcher’s data as their own;
reproduce results without citing the original source;
use restricted data without authorization;
remove identifying information about the source of a dataset;
present a previously published dataset as newly collected; or
reproduce numerical results without explaining their origin.

The use of existing data may be legitimate when access is lawful, the source is cited, relevant permissions are obtained, and the secondary nature of the analysis is disclosed transparently.

2.6 Figure, Table, and Image Plagiarism

Figures, tables, diagrams, photographs, screenshots, illustrations, maps, and other visual materials must not be reproduced or adapted without appropriate attribution and, where required, permission.

Authors must disclose whether a visual has been:

reproduced exactly;
adapted;
translated;
redrawn;
reconstructed from another source; or
generated using data or materials obtained elsewhere.

Redrawing a figure or changing its visual appearance does not remove the obligation to cite the original intellectual source.

2.7 Code and Software Plagiarism

Code, syntax, algorithms, scripts, notebooks, software components, prompts, and computational workflows obtained from another person or source must be acknowledged in accordance with applicable scholarly, licensing, and legal requirements.

Authors must not:

present another person’s code as their own;
remove authorship or licensing information;
reproduce substantial code without attribution;
incorporate restricted software components without permission; or
describe an existing algorithm as an original development.

Use of open-source code still requires compliance with the applicable license and appropriate citation or acknowledgment.

2.8 Translation Plagiarism

Translating previously published or unpublished content into another language does not create a new original work.

Translation plagiarism may occur when an author translates:

an article;
a paragraph;
an abstract;
an argument;
a book chapter;
a thesis;
a report;
a table;
a figure; or
other scholarly content

and presents the translated material without identifying and citing the original source.

A translated version of previously published work must also comply with applicable copyright, licensing, permission, and prior-publication requirements.

2.9 Plagiarism of Unpublished Material

Unpublished material is protected by the same principles of attribution and confidentiality as published material.

Authors, reviewers, and editors must not appropriate content from:

submitted manuscripts;
peer-review reports;
research proposals;
grant applications;
conference submissions;
unpublished theses;
private research documents;
confidential datasets; or
editorial correspondence.

Confidential access to unpublished material does not authorize its use.

2.10 Source-Based Plagiarism

Source-based plagiarism may occur when an author:

cites a secondary source as though the original source had been consulted;
provides an inaccurate source;
attributes a claim to a source that does not support it;
conceals the actual origin of copied material;
cites a source only in the reference list without linking it to the reused content;
uses a fabricated source to disguise unattributed content; or
reproduces a citation found in another work without verifying the original source.

Authors are responsible for consulting and representing sources accurately.

Text Recycling

Text recycling, sometimes called self-plagiarism, refers to reuse of an author’s own previously disseminated writing without sufficient transparency, acknowledgment, quotation, or citation.

Text recycling is distinct from plagiarism of another person’s work, but it can mislead readers regarding the originality of a manuscript and may create copyright or licensing concerns.

COPE defines text recycling as reuse of one’s own previous writing without transparency or appropriate reference to the original. COPE recommends evaluating such cases individually by considering the extent of overlap, its location in the manuscript, whether the original source was acknowledged, the type of article, and possible copyright implications. [publicatio...ethics.org], [publicatio...ethics.org]

Evaluation of Text Recycling

JSOMER evaluates text recycling according to:

the amount of material reused;
the manuscript section in which reuse occurs;
whether the original source is cited;
whether the reused material is identified transparently;
whether the reuse concerns text, data, results, figures, or ideas;
whether the new manuscript provides a distinct contribution;
whether readers could be misled;
whether copyright or licensing terms permit reuse; and
whether the earlier work was published, submitted, posted as a preprint, or otherwise disseminated.

A limited degree of textual similarity may be more understandable in descriptions of standardized or highly technical methods than in sections expected to communicate a new intellectual contribution. COPE likewise recognizes that overlap in a methods section may be more acceptable than equivalent overlap in a discussion section, depending on transparency and the surrounding circumstances. [publicatio...ethics.org], [How to dea...ed Central]

Reuse in Different Manuscript Sections

5.1 Title and Abstract

Substantial reuse of a title or abstract may misrepresent the manuscript as new and should be avoided unless the relationship with the earlier work is disclosed clearly.

Abstracts should accurately describe the current manuscript and should not be copied from an earlier publication.

5.2 Introduction and Literature Review

Authors may need to address similar background literature across related publications. However, the introduction and literature review should be written for the specific research question and contribution of the current manuscript.

Substantial verbatim reuse is not acceptable merely because the authors are describing the same field.

Relevant earlier work by the authors must be cited in the same manner as work by other researchers.

5.3 Methodology

Limited similarity in descriptions of standard or previously reported methods may be acceptable when:

accurate description requires similar terminology;
the earlier method is cited;
the prior publication is identified;
the authors explain whether the method was used unchanged or modified;
copyright and licensing requirements are satisfied; and
the reused wording does not conceal duplication of the study.

Where possible, authors should summarize previously published procedures and direct readers to the original source rather than reproducing extensive text.

5.4 Results

Reuse of previously published results as though they were new is not acceptable.

Previously published data or findings may be included only when necessary for comparison, extension, validation, or synthesis and when:

the original publication is cited;
the prior publication status is disclosed;
the relationship with the new findings is clear;
the reused results are identified appropriately; and
permissions are obtained where required.

5.5 Discussion and Conclusions

The discussion and conclusions should reflect the distinctive interpretation and contribution of the current manuscript.

Substantial reuse from an earlier publication is generally inappropriate because these sections are expected to explain the significance of the current findings.

5.6 Tables, Figures, and Supplementary Materials

Authors must not reuse their own previously published tables, figures, images, appendices, or supplementary materials without:

citing the original source;
identifying the material as reproduced or adapted;
obtaining permission where required; and
explaining its relevance to the current manuscript.

Ownership of the underlying work does not necessarily mean that the author retains the legal right to reproduce its published version.

Previous Versions and Related Works

Authors must disclose whether the manuscript or related content has appeared in:

a preprint;
a thesis or dissertation;
a conference paper;
a conference abstract;
an institutional repository;
a working paper;
a research report;
a policy document;
a book or book chapter;
another language;
an online platform; or
another publicly accessible form.

Prior dissemination does not always prevent consideration, but it must be disclosed.

Authors should cite the earlier version where appropriate and explain:

how the current manuscript differs;
what new material has been added;
whether data or text overlap;
whether copyright or licensing restrictions apply; and
why the current submission constitutes a distinct scholarly contribution.

Authors’ Responsibility for Originality

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

the manuscript is original;
all sources are cited accurately;
verbatim quotations are marked clearly;
paraphrased material is genuinely rewritten;
previously disseminated material is disclosed;
reused content is identified;
required permissions have been obtained;
all references exist and support the associated claims;
visual and computational materials are attributed appropriately;
related works are disclosed; and
no confidential or unpublished material has been used without authorization.

All authors share responsibility for the originality of the manuscript.

The corresponding author must ensure that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the manuscript and the originality declaration.

Similarity Report Requirement

Authors are requested to submit a complete similarity report corresponding to the version of the manuscript submitted to JSOMER.

The report should preferably be obtained through:

the author’s university;
research institution;
employer;
library; or
another legitimate similarity-detection service available without personal cost.

JSOMER does not require authors to purchase a commercial similarity report.

Authors without institutional or other no-cost access should explain the situation in the Comments to the Editor. Inability to provide a report because of lack of access does not, by itself, result in automatic rejection or unfavorable editorial treatment.

Similarity Report Requirements

When a similarity report is available, it should:

correspond to the submitted version of the manuscript;
identify the similarity-detection service;
show the date of generation;
display the overall similarity score;
include the complete list of matched sources;
show matched passages in context;
identify exclusions and filtering options;
be complete and readable;
be submitted in PDF or another stable format; and
remain unaltered.

A summary page, screenshot, or percentage without detailed source matches may be considered insufficient.

The report must be uploaded as a confidential supplementary file for editorial use and is not ordinarily shared with reviewers.

No Fixed Similarity Threshold

JSOMER does not apply a fixed or universal similarity threshold for:

administrative screening;
referral to peer review;
manuscript revision;
acceptance; or
rejection.

A similarity score is not a plagiarism score.

Similarity-detection tools identify textual matches. Such tools do not determine independently whether plagiarism has occurred. Properly quoted text, references, standard terminology, technical descriptions, preprints, or earlier versions may all contribute to a similarity score. [guides.turnitin.com], [guides.turnitin.com]

A high similarity score does not automatically establish plagiarism.

A low similarity score does not guarantee originality because a manuscript may contain:

inadequately acknowledged ideas;
translated plagiarism;
data plagiarism;
figure plagiarism;
mosaic plagiarism;
heavily modified copied language;
confidential material; or
sources not included in the comparison database.

Editorial Evaluation of Similarity

Editors evaluate the nature and context of each relevant match.

The evaluation may consider:

the matched source;
the reliability of the source identification;
location of the overlap;
length and concentration of the overlap;
whether the source is cited;
whether quotation formatting is used;
whether paraphrasing is genuine;
whether the overlap concerns commonly used language;
whether the overlap concerns original ideas, data, findings, or interpretation;
whether the source is the author’s own previous work;
whether the prior work was disclosed;
whether the overlap creates copyright or licensing concerns;
whether the manuscript misrepresents old content as new; and
whether the overall scholarly contribution remains original.

Editors do not make plagiarism determinations by counting matched words or relying solely on software-generated percentages.

Exclusions in Similarity Reports

Authors may exclude the bibliography and correctly formatted quotations when the similarity-detection service permits such settings.

Any exclusions must be visible or stated in the report.

Authors must not use exclusions or filters to:

conceal substantive copying;
omit relevant sources;
suppress large matches;
remove matches with their previous publications; or
produce an artificially low score.

The Editorial Office may request a new report without particular exclusions when necessary.

Additional Originality Checks

JSOMER may conduct manual or electronic checks when:

the submitted report is incomplete;
the report does not correspond to the manuscript;
relevant sources appear to have been excluded;
the manuscript contains unusual changes in style;
an editor or reviewer identifies unattributed content;
references appear fabricated or inaccurate;
related work has not been disclosed;
concerns arise during revision or production; or
a credible concern is reported after publication.

The journal may request:

a complete or replacement similarity report;
copies of matched sources;
earlier manuscript versions;
a thesis or dissertation;
a conference paper;
a preprint;
a related publication;
the original table, figure, image, or code;
evidence of permission; or
another document required for evaluation.

The journal’s inability to conduct an independent commercial similarity check does not prevent manual, documentary, or evidence-based assessment.

Manuscripts Written From Theses or Dissertations

A manuscript derived from a thesis or dissertation may be considered when:

the thesis or dissertation is disclosed;
the source is cited where appropriate;
the manuscript has been adapted appropriately for journal publication;
any co-authorship requirement is handled fairly;
the manuscript does not misrepresent the origin of the work;
relevant institutional requirements are satisfied; and
copyright and repository terms permit publication.

Substantial verbatim copying from a thesis should be minimized and disclosed.

A thesis written by an author is not treated in exactly the same manner as plagiarism of another person’s work. Nevertheless, lack of disclosure or extensive reuse may mislead readers and create originality or copyright concerns.

If the manuscript is based on another person’s thesis or dissertation, that person’s authorship and intellectual rights must be respected under the journal’s Authorship and Contributorship Policy.

Conference Papers, Abstracts, and Presentations

Previous presentation of findings at a conference does not automatically prevent journal publication.

Authors must disclose:

conference name;
date;
title of the presentation;
publication status of the proceedings;
DOI or URL where available;
whether a full paper was published;
extent of textual or data overlap; and
new contribution of the submitted manuscript.

Publication of a complete conference paper may create a prior-publication, copyright, or originality issue. Authors must explain how the journal submission differs substantially from the conference version.

Preprints

Posting a legitimate preprint does not automatically prevent consideration by JSOMER.

Authors must:

disclose the preprint;
provide its DOI or URL;
identify the preprint server;
cite it where appropriate;
ensure consistency with applicable licensing terms; and
update the preprint record with a link to the published article where the repository permits.

A similarity match with the authors’ disclosed preprint should not be treated automatically as plagiarism. The editor will verify whether the preprint and submitted manuscript have the same legitimate authorship and provenance.

Undisclosed use of another person’s preprint may constitute plagiarism.

Copyright and Attribution

Appropriate citation does not automatically provide legal permission to reproduce copyrighted material.

Authors are responsible for determining whether permission is required for:

extensive quotations;
tables;
figures;
images;
instruments;
scales;
diagrams;
maps;
code;
multimedia; or
other protected content.

When material is reproduced or adapted, the manuscript should include an appropriate acknowledgment and permission statement.

Material available online is not automatically free of copyright or attribution requirements.

Artificial Intelligence and Plagiarism

Artificial intelligence tools must not be used to conceal or facilitate plagiarism.

Authors must not use AI systems to:

paraphrase copied text for the purpose of avoiding detection;
translate copied material and present it as original;
generate fabricated citations;
obscure the origin of ideas;
reconstruct protected content without attribution;
imitate another author’s work improperly; or
produce a manuscript assembled from unattributed sources.

Authors remain responsible for identifying the origin of all material in the manuscript, including AI-assisted text.

Use of an AI tool does not transfer responsibility for plagiarism from the authors to the technology provider.

Substantive AI use must be disclosed under the journal’s Artificial Intelligence Policy.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers should notify the handling editor confidentially when they identify possible plagiarism or inappropriate text recycling.

The notification should include, where possible:

the relevant manuscript passage;
the suspected source;
a DOI, URL, or complete citation;
an explanation of the similarity; and
any available documentary evidence.

Reviewers must not:

contact authors directly;
disclose the allegation publicly;
contact the authors’ institution;
contact affected third parties without editorial authorization;
make unsupported accusations; or
use confidential manuscript content for personal benefit.

The handling editor determines the appropriate next step.

COPE recommends that plagiarism concerns raised by reviewers be supported by documentary evidence and investigated by the journal before conclusions are reached. [turnitin.com], [journalofspark.com]

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

examining relevant evidence;
distinguishing similarity from plagiarism;
evaluating overlap in context;
protecting confidentiality;
providing authors with an opportunity to respond;
seeking independent advice when necessary;
applying the policy consistently;
avoiding automatic decisions based only on percentages;
considering copyright and licensing issues;
protecting individuals whose work may have been copied; and
taking proportionate editorial action.

An editor with a relevant conflict of interest must not investigate or decide a plagiarism matter involving the manuscript.

Plagiarism Suspected Before Publication

When plagiarism is suspected in a submitted manuscript, JSOMER may:

suspend editorial evaluation;
collect documentary evidence;
compare the manuscript with the suspected sources;
assess the type, location, and extent of overlap;
contact the corresponding author for an explanation;
contact all authors where appropriate;
request revised text, citations, permissions, or source materials;
seek confidential independent advice;
reject or administratively withdraw the manuscript;
contact another journal or publisher when necessary; or
refer the matter to an institution or other authorized body in serious cases.

Authors will normally be given an opportunity to respond before a final decision is made.

COPE’s submitted-manuscript procedure similarly recommends obtaining documentary evidence, assessing the copying, contacting the authors, and contacting the relevant institution when serious concerns remain unresolved. [turnitin.com], [journalofspark.com]

Possible Outcomes Before Publication

Depending on the evidence and severity, JSOMER may:

determine that no plagiarism occurred;
request citation or quotation corrections;
request substantial rewriting;
require disclosure of an earlier source;
request copyright permission;
return the manuscript for technical correction;
continue peer review;
reject the manuscript;
administratively withdraw the submission;
suspend consideration pending institutional review;
notify another affected journal or publisher; or
notify the authors’ institution.

Minor and correctable attribution problems may be addressed through revision when the scholarly contribution remains valid and there is no evidence of serious misconduct.

Substantial plagiarism ordinarily results in rejection or administrative withdrawal.

Plagiarism Identified After Publication

When a credible plagiarism concern is raised after publication, JSOMER may:

obtain documentary evidence;
compare the article with the suspected source;
contact the corresponding author;
contact all authors where appropriate;
contact the individual whose work may have been copied;
consult an independent expert;
contact another journal, publisher, institution, or copyright holder;
publish an interim expression of concern when necessary; and
determine the appropriate correction to the scholarly record.

COPE recommends that journals consider correction or retraction according to the degree and significance of copying and communicate with authors and affected publications during the investigation. [publicatio...ethics.org], [members.pu...ethics.org]

Possible Outcomes After Publication

Possible actions include:

no further action;
correction of citations or quotation formatting;
correction of a figure, table, or acknowledgment;
replacement of affected supplementary material;
publication of a correction notice;
publication of an expression of concern;
retraction of the article;
notification of affected authors or copyright holders;
notification of another journal or publisher;
referral to an institution; or
another action necessary to protect the scholarly record.

A correction may be appropriate when:

the unattributed overlap is limited;
the original source can be identified accurately;
the article’s principal findings remain reliable;
the scholarly contribution remains substantially original; and
correction can resolve the problem transparently.

Retraction may be appropriate when:

plagiarism is extensive;
original ideas, data, findings, or substantial content were appropriated;
the article’s claim to originality is fundamentally false;
the copied content materially affects the article;
the reliability or legitimacy of the publication is undermined; or
correction cannot adequately resolve the problem.

Text Recycling Identified After Publication

When text recycling is identified after publication, JSOMER will consider:

amount of reused material;
section in which it appears;
acknowledgment of the original;
whether reused content includes data or results;
originality of the later article;
copyright or licensing restrictions;
whether readers were misled; and
whether another publication is affected.

Minor text recycling may be addressed through correction and citation of the earlier source.

Extensive recycling may require retraction when the later article contains insufficient original material or substantially misrepresents its novelty. COPE recommends proportionate action based on the extent, location, transparency, and effect of the recycled content. [publicatio...ethics.org], [publicatio...ethics.org]

Author Response

Authors responding to a plagiarism concern should:

address the identified passages directly;
identify all relevant sources;
provide earlier manuscript versions where requested;
explain the origin of the material;
disclose related publications;
provide permissions where applicable;
correct inaccurate citations;
explain any use of artificial intelligence;
cooperate in identifying affected content; and
respond within the period specified by the editor.

Failure to respond does not prevent JSOMER from taking editorial action based on the available evidence.

An author’s assertion that copying was unintentional does not, by itself, resolve the need to correct the manuscript or scholarly record.

Institutional Involvement

JSOMER may contact an author’s institution, research-integrity office, funder, or another authorized body when:

the plagiarism is substantial;
the copied material includes unpublished or confidential work;
multiple publications may be affected;
the authors provide conflicting accounts;
documents appear unreliable;
the concern suggests repeated behavior;
the identity of the original contributor is disputed;
the journal cannot determine relevant facts; or
a formal investigation is required.

JSOMER makes editorial and publishing decisions but does not conduct institutional disciplinary proceedings.

The journal may revise its action after receiving an institutional finding.

Complaints Made in Bad Faith

Plagiarism allegations must be supported by specific evidence.

JSOMER will not treat the following as proof of plagiarism:

unsupported accusations;
personal disagreement;
academic rivalry;
similarity in general subject matter;
use of the same established theory;
use of standard terminology;
use of a common research method;
similarity caused solely by required reporting language; or
coincidence without evidence of intellectual appropriation.

Wilfully false, malicious, threatening, or harassing allegations may be handled under the journal’s Complaints and Appeals Policy.

Confidentiality

Plagiarism investigations are handled as confidentially as reasonably possible.

Information may be shared with:

the authors;
the Editor-in-Chief;
an independent handling editor;
affected authors or rights holders;
another journal or publisher;
an institutional research-integrity officer;
an ethics body;
a legal authority; or
another person with a legitimate role in resolving the concern.

The journal will not disclose personal information more widely than necessary.

Confidentiality does not prevent publication of a correction, expression of concern, retraction, or other notice needed to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Proportionate and Fair Evaluation

JSOMER distinguishes among:

legitimate textual similarity;
acceptable quotation;
standard methodological language;
citation error;
inadequate paraphrasing;
limited text recycling;
substantial text recycling;
minor plagiarism;
extensive plagiarism; and
appropriation of ideas, data, or unpublished material.

The journal considers:

nature of the material;
extent of overlap;
scholarly importance;
transparency;
attribution;
copyright;
effect on originality;
effect on reliability;
author response;
publication status; and
whether the concern can be corrected.

The purpose of the procedure is to protect intellectual contributions and the scholarly record, not to impose an automatic penalty based on software output.

Relationship With Other Policies

This policy addresses plagiarism and text recycling.

Related matters are governed separately:

duplicate and redundant publication;
salami publication;
data fabrication and falsification;
image manipulation;
citation manipulation;
authorship misconduct;
peer-review manipulation;
paper mills;
artificial intelligence misuse; and
systematic manipulation of the publication process.

These matters will be addressed primarily under the journal’s Publication Integrity Policy, Authorship and Contributorship Policy, Research Data and Reproducibility Policy, and Artificial Intelligence Policy.

An incident may fall under more than one policy.

Author Originality Declaration

At submission, the corresponding author must confirm the following statement on behalf of all authors:

Originality and Plagiarism Declaration: The authors confirm that the manuscript is original and that all words, ideas, data, methods, results, figures, tables, images, code, translations, and other materials derived from external sources have been acknowledged appropriately. Verbatim material has been identified clearly and cited accurately. Previously disseminated material by the authors has been disclosed and cited where appropriate. No confidential or unpublished material has been used without authorization. The authors understand that JSOMER does not apply a fixed similarity threshold and evaluates the source, location, extent, attribution, and scholarly significance of identified overlap.

Similarity Report Declaration

Authors should also confirm:

Similarity Report Declaration: Where available through an institution or another legitimate no-cost service, a complete similarity report corresponding to the submitted manuscript has been uploaded for confidential editorial use. If such access was unavailable, the circumstances have been explained in the Comments to the Editor. The authors understand that a similarity score is not a plagiarism score and that the responsibility for the originality and appropriate attribution of the manuscript remains with the authors.

Contact

Questions or evidence-based concerns concerning plagiarism, attribution, text recycling, or a similarity report may be directed to:

JSOMER Editorial Office
Email: editor@jsomer.org
Website: https://jsomer.org

Last updated: July 20, 2026