Plagiarism Policy

Jurnal Sistem Informasi dan Teknik Informatika (JAFOTIK), published by Lentera Ilmu Publisher, is committed to maintaining academic integrity, originality, transparency, and ethical standards in scholarly publishing. The journal recognizes that plagiarism undermines the credibility of scientific research and the integrity of the scholarly record.

All manuscripts submitted to JAFOTIK must represent original scholarly work, appropriately acknowledge the contributions of other researchers, and comply with accepted standards of research and publication ethics. Plagiarism, in any form, is unacceptable and may result in editorial action, including manuscript rejection or other sanctions in accordance with the severity of the violation.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, research findings, data, methods, images, figures, tables, computer code, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment, or the presentation of such material in a manner that misrepresents its origin or ownership.

Plagiarism may occur in published or unpublished works, including journal articles, conference papers, books, theses, dissertations, research reports, websites, datasets, and other scholarly or technical materials.

JAFOTIK recognizes the following forms of plagiarism:

  1. Direct Plagiarism: Copying text or other material from a source without appropriate quotation, attribution, or permission where required.

  2. Mosaic Plagiarism: Combining phrases, sentences, or passages from one or more sources without adequate acknowledgment, including reproducing another author's distinctive wording with only minor changes.

  3. Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another person's ideas or arguments without proper citation or presenting substantially similar material as original work.

  4. Idea and Data Plagiarism: Using another researcher's original ideas, hypotheses, research findings, datasets, methods, equations, figures, or tables without appropriate acknowledgment.

  5. Source Code and Digital Content Plagiarism: Reusing software code, algorithms, digital illustrations, technical designs, or other digital materials without appropriate attribution or compliance with applicable licenses.

  6. Self-Plagiarism and Redundant Publication: Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without appropriate disclosure or citation, or presenting substantially overlapping work as a new and original contribution.

  7. Authorship Misrepresentation: Presenting another person's intellectual contribution as one's own or failing to acknowledge qualifying contributions, in violation of the journal's authorship policy.

The assessment of suspected plagiarism will take into account the nature of the material, the extent of overlap, the adequacy of attribution, the originality of the contribution, and the context in which the material is used.

2. Originality Requirements

Manuscripts submitted to JAFOTIK must be original and must not have been published previously in a form that constitutes duplicate publication. A manuscript must not be under consideration for publication by another journal at the same time.

Any prior dissemination of the work, including publication in conference proceedings, preprints, institutional repositories, theses, or other scholarly outlets, must be disclosed where relevant and must comply with JAFOTIK's submission requirements.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all borrowed ideas, text, data, figures, tables, methods, and other materials are properly cited. Direct quotations must be clearly distinguished from the authors' own writing, and permissions must be obtained whenever required by copyright law or the applicable license.

Authors must not attempt to conceal copied material through superficial word substitutions, machine translation, automated paraphrasing, or other techniques intended to evade plagiarism detection.

3. Similarity Screening and Detection

All manuscripts submitted to JAFOTIK are subject to similarity screening as part of the editorial assessment process.

Authors are strongly encouraged to check their manuscripts before submission using Turnitin or iThenticate and to review the resulting reports carefully. The editorial team will independently conduct similarity screening using Turnitin or iThenticate, in accordance with the journal's available resources and editorial procedures.

For consistency, JAFOTIK uses the following similarity thresholds as initial screening benchmarks:

  • Overall similarity index: Must not exceed 25%.

  • Similarity to a single source: Must not exceed 5%.

Manuscripts exceeding either benchmark may be returned for clarification or revision, subjected to further editorial investigation, or rejected, depending on the nature and extent of the overlap.

These thresholds are screening criteria rather than definitive proof of plagiarism. A manuscript below the thresholds may still contain plagiarism, while a manuscript exceeding them may contain legitimate overlap, such as properly cited quotations, references, standard technical terminology, or commonly used methodological descriptions. The editorial team will evaluate the similarity report in context before making a final decision.

Authors must not manipulate similarity reports by removing relevant text, excluding substantial matching material without justification, or making superficial changes solely to reduce the similarity score.

JAFOTIK requires similarity reports generated using Turnitin or iThenticate for editorial assessment. Reports generated by other software may be used for the authors' preliminary internal checks but do not replace the journal's own screening procedures.

4. Screening at Different Publication Stages

Similarity screening may be conducted at the following stages:

  1. Initial Submission: The editorial team checks the manuscript for originality before or during the initial editorial assessment.

  2. Revised Manuscript: Additional screening may be conducted after revision if substantial overlap or other concerns remain.

  3. Final Accepted Manuscript: The final camera-ready version may be checked again before publication to ensure that revisions have not introduced new similarity concerns.

Acceptance at an earlier stage does not exempt a manuscript from further screening. If suspected plagiarism is identified at any stage, the editorial team may suspend the publication process while the matter is investigated.

5. Editorial Assessment of Suspected Plagiarism

When potential plagiarism is detected, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor is responsible for reviewing the similarity report and determining the appropriate course of action.

The assessment may consider:

  • The proportion and location of overlapping text.

  • Whether the source is properly cited.

  • Whether the overlap concerns routine expressions or substantive intellectual contributions.

  • Whether original data, results, figures, tables, equations, or methods have been reproduced without acknowledgment.

  • Whether the overlap involves the authors' own previously published work.

  • Whether there is evidence of intentional concealment or repeated misconduct.

Where necessary, the editorial team may request an explanation, additional documentation, corrected citations, permission records, or a revised manuscript from the authors.

6. Levels of Plagiarism and Possible Sanctions

JAFOTIK distinguishes between minor, intermediate, and severe cases of suspected plagiarism. The classification and response will depend on the evidence, context, extent of overlap, and significance of the material involved.

6.1 Minor Plagiarism

Minor plagiarism involves limited overlap, such as a short passage or a small number of sentences, where the issue does not involve substantial research findings, original ideas, or critical intellectual contributions.

Possible actions:

  • Issue a formal warning to the authors.

  • Request correction, proper citation, or appropriate paraphrasing.

  • Require resubmission of a revised manuscript.

  • Conduct another similarity check before proceeding with peer review or publication.

Minor cases may be resolved through correction when the problem is limited and there is no evidence of deliberate or repeated misconduct.

6.2 Intermediate Plagiarism

Intermediate plagiarism involves substantial unattributed overlap, such as a significant paragraph, multiple passages, or the reproduction of meaningful ideas, analyses, or research content without appropriate acknowledgment.

Possible actions:

  • Reject the submitted manuscript.

  • Suspend editorial processing while seeking clarification.

  • Notify the corresponding author of the reasons for the decision.

  • Refer serious or repeated concerns to the authors' affiliated institution when appropriate.

A manuscript may be rejected even if its overall similarity score is below the established threshold when the overlap concerns significant intellectual contributions.

6.3 Severe Plagiarism

Severe plagiarism involves extensive or systematic appropriation of another person's work, including substantial reproduction of original research results, datasets, figures, tables, equations, methods, interpretations, or other significant intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment.

Examples include presenting another researcher's findings as one's own, reproducing substantial parts of another publication, or deliberately concealing copied material.

Possible actions:

  • Immediately reject the manuscript when the evidence establishes serious plagiarism.

  • Suspend consideration of other manuscripts from the same authors while a credible and material concern is investigated, where justified.

  • Refer the matter to the relevant institution, publisher, or other appropriate authority when necessary.

  • Consider temporary or permanent restrictions on future submissions in cases of serious, repeated, or deliberate misconduct, subject to editorial review and the journal's applicable procedures.

  • If the article has already been published, consider a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the circumstances.

Any restriction on future submissions must be proportionate, supported by evidence, and communicated to the affected authors.

7. Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication

Authors must clearly identify and cite relevant material from their previous publications. Reuse of previously published text, figures, tables, datasets, or other material must be disclosed and must comply with the applicable copyright, licensing, and publication requirements.

Submitting substantially the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is prohibited. Republishing substantially overlapping research without adequate disclosure or a legitimate scholarly justification may constitute duplicate publication or redundant publication.

Where a manuscript builds on previously published work, authors must clearly explain the new contribution and demonstrate how the submission differs meaningfully from the earlier publication.

8. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automated Paraphrasing Tools

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools or automated paraphrasing software does not exempt authors from the obligation to acknowledge sources and produce original scholarly work.

Authors remain responsible for verifying the accuracy, originality, and proper attribution of all content, including material generated, translated, summarized, or rewritten with AI assistance.

Using AI tools to disguise copied text, fabricate references, reproduce another person's work without acknowledgment, or evade similarity screening is unacceptable and may be treated as a publication ethics violation.

Any disclosure of AI use must comply with JAFOTIK's applicable AI policy.

9. Author Responsibilities

Authors submitting manuscripts to JAFOTIK are responsible for:

  1. Ensuring the originality of the manuscript and properly acknowledging all sources.

  2. Checking the accuracy and completeness of citations and references.

  3. Obtaining permissions for third-party material when required.

  4. Disclosing relevant prior publications and overlapping research outputs.

  5. Cooperating with the editorial team during any investigation of suspected plagiarism.

  6. Providing accurate explanations and supporting documents when requested.

  7. Correcting identified problems before publication and notifying the journal of significant concerns discovered after publication.

All co-authors share responsibility for the integrity of the submitted work and should ensure that the manuscript complies with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

10. Appeals and Author Responses

Authors may submit a written response or appeal if they believe that a plagiarism-related decision was based on an inaccurate interpretation of the similarity report or insufficient evidence.

The appeal must provide a clear explanation and relevant supporting documentation, such as original drafts, source files, publication records, citations, or permission statements.

The Editor-in-Chief or an authorized editor who is not directly conflicted in the matter will review the appeal where feasible. The journal may maintain, revise, or withdraw its original decision based on the evidence.

An appeal does not guarantee reversal of the decision, and the journal may continue to withhold publication while the matter is under review.

11. Plagiarism Discovered After Publication

If credible evidence of plagiarism emerges after an article has been published, JAFOTIK will assess the concern in accordance with its publication ethics procedures.

Depending on the seriousness of the violation, the journal may issue a correction, publish an expression of concern, retract the article, or take other appropriate action to protect the integrity of the scholarly record.

Any public notice will explain the reason for the action to the extent appropriate and consistent with applicable legal and ethical requirements.

12. Policy Enforcement

The Editor-in-Chief, in consultation with the editorial team where appropriate, is responsible for implementing this policy and determining the appropriate response to suspected plagiarism.

All cases will be handled fairly, confidentially, and consistently, with due consideration for the available evidence and the rights of the individuals involved. JAFOTIK may refer to recognized publication ethics guidance, including recommendations from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), when assessing suspected misconduct.

JAFOTIK reserves the right to reject manuscripts, suspend editorial processing, request corrections, investigate credible allegations, and take other proportionate actions necessary to maintain academic integrity.

By submitting a manuscript to JAFOTIK, authors acknowledge their responsibility to comply with this Plagiarism Policy and all other applicable journal publication ethics requirements.