Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Computer Science Application and Engineering (JOSAPEN), published by Lentera Ilmu Publisher, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, research ethics, and responsible scholarly publishing. Plagiarism and other forms of publication misconduct undermine the credibility of scientific research and are strictly prohibited.

JOSAPEN considers originality, proper attribution, transparency, and accountability essential requirements for every manuscript submitted for publication. All authors, editors, and reviewers are expected to uphold these principles throughout the submission, peer-review, editorial decision, and publication processes.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the use of another person's words, ideas, data, methods, results, figures, tables, software, or other intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment, thereby presenting them as one's own original work.

Plagiarism may occur in published articles, submitted manuscripts, conference papers, theses, dissertations, research reports, electronic publications, and other scholarly materials. It can be intentional or unintentional; however, authors remain responsible for ensuring that their work is properly attributed and ethically prepared.

JOSAPEN recognizes the following forms of plagiarism and related publication misconduct:

Direct Plagiarism: Reproducing another author's text or material verbatim without appropriate quotation, attribution, or permission where required.
Mosaic or Patchwork Plagiarism: Combining phrases, sentences, or passages from one or more sources without adequate acknowledgment, even when some words have been changed.
Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting another author's ideas or arguments without citing the original source.
Idea Plagiarism: Presenting another researcher's original concepts, hypotheses, methods, or interpretations as one's own without appropriate acknowledgment.
Data and Results Plagiarism: Using another researcher's data, experimental results, equations, algorithms, figures, tables, or other research outputs without proper attribution or authorization where required.
Self-Plagiarism and Text Recycling: Reusing substantial portions of one's previously published work without appropriate citation, disclosure, or justification, particularly when the reuse creates a misleading impression of novelty.
Duplicate or Redundant Publication: Submitting or publishing substantially the same research in multiple publications without appropriate disclosure or an acceptable scholarly justification.
Source Misrepresentation: Citing sources inaccurately, misrepresenting the findings of cited research, or attributing material to sources that do not support the claims made.
Unauthorized Reuse of Copyrighted Material: Reproducing protected material without the necessary permission when permission is legally required. Copyright infringement and plagiarism are related but distinct issues; a work may violate one without necessarily violating the other.

Proper citation is required even when permission to reuse material is not required. Conversely, providing a citation does not automatically authorize the reproduction of copyrighted material.

2. Originality and Submission Requirements

All manuscripts submitted to JOSAPEN must represent original scholarly work and must comply with the journal's publication ethics requirements.

Authors must ensure that:

The manuscript has not been published previously in substantially the same form, except for prior dissemination explicitly permitted by the journal's policies and appropriately disclosed.
The manuscript is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal.
All ideas, text, data, methods, figures, tables, and other materials derived from external sources are properly acknowledged.
All quotations are clearly identified and attributed to their original sources.
Paraphrased material is written in the authors' own words and accompanied by appropriate citations.
Previously published or publicly available material belonging to the authors is disclosed and cited where appropriate.
All necessary permissions for third-party copyrighted material have been obtained before publication, where required.
All co-authors are informed of and agree to the manuscript's originality and publication ethics requirements.

Authors must not manipulate text, references, figures, or other materials to conceal plagiarism or artificially reduce similarity scores.

3. Similarity Screening and Detection Software

All manuscripts submitted to JOSAPEN are subject to similarity screening as part of the initial editorial assessment. The journal uses Turnitin or iThenticate to identify textual overlap between submitted manuscripts and existing sources, including journal articles, conference proceedings, books, theses, dissertations, websites, and other accessible publications.

Authors are strongly encouraged to conduct a preliminary similarity check using Turnitin or iThenticate before submission. The journal does not accept reports from other similarity-checking software as substitutes for its designated screening tools when an official similarity report is required.

The editorial team may conduct additional checks during peer review, after revision, before acceptance, and during the preparation of the final publication files.

Similarity Thresholds

JOSAPEN applies the following similarity benchmarks:

Overall similarity: The overall similarity score should not exceed 25%.
Single-source similarity: The similarity score attributed to any individual source should not exceed 5%.

These thresholds serve as editorial screening benchmarks rather than conclusive evidence of plagiarism. A manuscript that exceeds either threshold may be returned for revision, subjected to further investigation, or rejected, depending on the nature and extent of the identified overlap.

Similarly, a manuscript below these thresholds may still constitute plagiarism if the matched content involves unattributed ideas, substantial copied passages, research data, results, or other intellectual contributions.

In interpreting similarity reports, the editorial team may consider legitimate matches arising from properly cited quotations, references, standard terminology, technical expressions, mathematical formulas, methodological descriptions, and other unavoidable or appropriately attributed material. Any exclusions applied during screening must be reasonable and must not be used to conceal substantive overlap.

Authors must not manipulate their manuscripts or similarity reports by changing text solely to evade detection. The final determination rests on a contextual assessment of the matched material and the manuscript's scholarly integrity.

4. Editorial Assessment and Investigation

When potential plagiarism or related publication misconduct is identified, the Editor-in-Chief or an authorized handling editor will assess the similarity report and the relevant source materials.

The assessment may consider:

The proportion and location of overlapping text.
The originality and significance of the affected material.
Whether the overlapping content is properly cited or quoted.
Whether the overlap concerns background information, methodology, original ideas, data, results, or conclusions.
Whether previously published material has been reused without disclosure.
Whether copyright or other third-party rights may have been infringed.
The authors' explanations and any additional evidence available.

Where appropriate, the journal may request clarification, a revised manuscript, supporting documentation, or a written explanation from the corresponding author. For potentially serious violations, the journal may consult the relevant institution, research organization, publisher, or other appropriate authority.

The editorial team will determine the appropriate response based on the evidence, the seriousness of the violation, and the applicable publication ethics policies.

5. Levels of Plagiarism and Editorial Actions

JOSAPEN classifies plagiarism according to its nature, extent, significance, and potential impact on the integrity of the scholarly record. Similarity percentages alone do not determine the severity of a violation.

5.1 Minor Plagiarism

Minor plagiarism involves limited textual overlap or a small amount of improperly attributed material that does not substantially affect the originality of the research, its principal ideas, data, results, or conclusions.

Examples may include an isolated uncited sentence, an inadequately paraphrased short passage, or a limited attribution error.

Possible editorial actions:

Issue a written warning or request clarification from the authors.
Require correction of the affected text and proper citation of the original source.
Request a revised similarity report where appropriate.
Reassess the revised manuscript before proceeding with peer review or further editorial consideration.

Minor plagiarism will not automatically result in rejection when the issue can be appropriately corrected and there is no evidence of deliberate or substantial misconduct.

5.2 Intermediate Plagiarism

Intermediate plagiarism involves substantial unattributed textual overlap, repeated misuse of another author's ideas, or the reproduction of significant passages, figures, tables, or other research materials without appropriate acknowledgment.

Examples may include copying substantial sections from a published article, systematically paraphrasing another author's work without citation, or reusing previously published material in a manner that misrepresents its originality.

Possible editorial actions:

Reject the submitted manuscript if the violation is substantiated and materially compromises its originality.
Request a written explanation where necessary to establish the facts.
Notify the authors of the editorial decision and the reasons for the action.
Refer serious or repeated cases to the authors' affiliated institution or other appropriate authority when warranted.

A manuscript containing substantial plagiarism will not be accepted solely on the basis of subsequent cosmetic changes or a reduced similarity score.

5.3 Severe Plagiarism

Severe plagiarism involves extensive or systematic appropriation of another person's scholarly work or intellectual contributions. It may include reproducing substantial portions of an article, misappropriating original research ideas, copying data or results, presenting another researcher's findings as one's own, or engaging in deliberate attempts to conceal plagiarism.

Severe plagiarism may also involve fabricated attribution, systematic manipulation of similarity reports, or repeated and demonstrable publication misconduct.

Possible editorial actions:

Immediately suspend editorial processing while the case is assessed.
Reject the manuscript if severe plagiarism is substantiated.
Refer the matter to the authors' affiliated institution, research organization, or other appropriate authority where warranted.
Consider restrictions on future submissions by the responsible authors in cases of serious or repeated misconduct, following a documented assessment and an opportunity for the authors to respond.
If the article has already been published, consider issuing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction, depending on the findings and the extent to which the publication's integrity is affected.

Any restriction on future submissions will be proportionate to the seriousness of the misconduct and applied in accordance with the journal's publication ethics procedures.

6. Author Notification and Opportunity to Respond

JOSAPEN seeks to handle suspected plagiarism fairly, consistently, and transparently.

When a potentially significant violation is identified, the corresponding author will normally be informed of the concern and given an opportunity to provide an explanation or supporting evidence before a final adverse decision is made, where appropriate.

The journal may take immediate protective action when necessary to preserve the integrity of the editorial process or scholarly record. Failure to respond within the specified timeframe, or the provision of an inadequate explanation, may be considered when determining the next steps.

The journal reserves the right to reject a manuscript when the available evidence establishes a serious violation of its originality or publication ethics requirements.

7. Plagiarism Detected After Publication

JOSAPEN considers publication integrity an ongoing responsibility that continues after an article has been published.

If credible evidence of plagiarism or related misconduct is identified after publication, the journal will evaluate the concern and take appropriate action in accordance with its publication ethics policies.

Depending on the circumstances, the journal may:

Request an explanation from the authors.
Conduct an editorial investigation and consult relevant sources or institutions.
Publish a correction when the problem can be appropriately resolved without invalidating the article's principal findings.
Issue an expression of concern when a substantial matter remains under investigation.
Retract the article when plagiarism or related misconduct materially undermines its originality, reliability, or integrity.
Notify relevant institutions, publishers, or other parties when justified by the findings and applicable procedures.

Retraction notices and other editorial statements will explain the reason for the action as clearly as possible while respecting applicable legal and ethical obligations.

8. Use of Artificial Intelligence and Automated Tools

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools does not exempt authors from their responsibility to ensure originality, appropriate attribution, and research integrity.

Authors must disclose the use of AI-assisted tools in accordance with JOSAPEN's applicable AI and publication ethics policies. AI-generated or AI-rewritten material must not be used to conceal copied content, fabricate citations, misrepresent sources, or present another person's intellectual contributions as original work.

Authors remain responsible for verifying all AI-assisted text, references, data descriptions, figures, and other content included in their manuscripts.

The use of AI detection software alone is not sufficient to establish plagiarism or other research misconduct. Any concern involving AI-assisted content must be evaluated in context and supported by appropriate evidence.

9. Responsibilities of Authors, Editors, and Reviewers

Authors are responsible for submitting original work, citing sources accurately, obtaining necessary permissions, disclosing relevant prior publications, and responding honestly to editorial inquiries.

Editors are responsible for evaluating similarity reports objectively, investigating credible concerns, protecting confidential submission materials, and applying this policy consistently.

Reviewers should alert the editorial team to suspected plagiarism, undisclosed overlap, or other potential publication ethics violations encountered during peer review. Reviewers should not make unsupported accusations or distribute confidential manuscript content without authorization.

All parties are expected to cooperate in maintaining the integrity and credibility of the scholarly record.

10. Appeals and Policy Enforcement

Authors who believe that an editorial decision concerning suspected plagiarism was based on inaccurate evidence or a misinterpretation of the similarity report may submit a written appeal to the Editor-in-Chief.

Appeals must identify the disputed findings and provide relevant supporting evidence. The journal will review the appeal in accordance with its editorial procedures. Where appropriate, the matter may be assessed by an editor who was not directly involved in the original decision.

JOSAPEN reserves the right to reject manuscripts, suspend editorial processing, request corrections, notify relevant institutions, or take other proportionate measures when plagiarism or related publication misconduct is established.

11. Commitment to Publication Integrity

JOSAPEN is committed to ensuring that all published articles meet appropriate standards of originality, scholarly rigor, proper attribution, and research integrity. Through similarity screening, contextual editorial assessment, transparent procedures, and proportionate enforcement, the journal seeks to protect authors, readers, reviewers, and the wider research community.

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