Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism and Originality Policy

INCODING: Journal of Informatics and Computer Science Engineering upholds strict standards of originality and academic integrity in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Plagiarism in all its forms—including verbatim copying without attribution, improper paraphrasing, appropriation of ideas/algorithms/datasets, self-plagiarism (text recycling), and duplicate publication—constitutes a serious breach of publication ethics and is strictly prohibited.

1. Mandatory Similarity Screening and Maximum Threshold

Every manuscript submitted to INCODING undergoes mandatory text-similarity screening during initial editorial assessment prior to peer review using Turnitin and/or Plagiarism Checker X.

  • Maximum Permitted Similarity Index: The overall similarity score must not exceed 30% (excluding bibliography/reference list and properly quoted generic methodological expressions), with no more than 3% overlap from any single source.
  • Qualitative Editorial Evaluation: The editorial team evaluates both the quantitative similarity percentage and the qualitative context of matched passages to verify that all external sources, equations, code frameworks, and datasets are properly cited in IEEE format.

2. Handling of Similarity and Suspected Plagiarism

Depending on the degree and nature of textual overlap detected, the Editorial Board takes the following actions in line with COPE flowcharts:

  • Similarity Index ≤ 30% with Proper Attribution: The manuscript passes similarity screening and proceeds to double-anonymous peer review.
  • Minor to Moderate Overlap (31% – 50%) Without Malicious Intent: The manuscript is returned to the author(s) prior to peer review with a request to revise, paraphrase properly, and add complete citations within a specified deadline.
  • Severe Overlap (> 50%) or Deliberate Plagiarism: The manuscript is immediately rejected without peer review. Where deliberate appropriation of another researcher's work is confirmed, the Editorial Board may notify the author's institution and impose a submission ban.

3. Post-Publication Plagiarism

If plagiarism, duplicate publication, or unattributed use of third-party material is discovered after an article has been published, INCODING will conduct a formal investigation following the COPE Retraction Guidelines. Confirmed plagiarism in a published article will result in the publication of a formal Retraction Notice linked to the original DOI and notification to the authors' affiliated institutions.