Plagiarism Detection Policy

Plagiarism and Similarity Detection Policy

All manuscripts submitted to Imperium Académico Multidisciplinary Journal (IAMJ) are subject to mandatory similarity screening and originality verification as part of the editorial process, prior to peer review and, where necessary, at subsequent stages.

The journal uses specialised similarity-detection tools to provide technical support for editorial assessment. Reports generated by these systems do not, by themselves, constitute an automatic criterion for acceptance or rejection. Each report is carefully examined by the editorial team, taking into account the context, nature, extent and location of the identified similarities.

Interpretation of Similarity Scores

Similarity percentages are assessed contextually and used as guidance according to the following general ranges. No percentage alone guarantees the originality of a manuscript or automatically confirms the existence of plagiarism.

Similarity Score of up to 15%

This is generally considered acceptable, provided that the similarities correspond to properly cited quotations, bibliographic references, conventional methodological descriptions or commonly used technical terminology. Nevertheless, the manuscript may be subject to observations or rejected if it contains unattributed use of texts, ideas, data, tables or figures, even when the overall percentage is low.

Similarity Score Between 16% and 25%

This requires a detailed editorial review. In such cases, authors may be requested to revise the manuscript, improve paraphrasing, strengthen citation practices or reduce the identified similarities before the editorial process continues.

Similarity Score Between 26% and 40%

This is considered potentially problematic. The manuscript may be returned for substantial revision or rejected, depending on the extent, relevance, source and location of the matching content.

Similarity Score Above 40%

This is generally considered unacceptable and may indicate plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling or redundant publication. Following the corresponding editorial assessment, the manuscript may be rejected without proceeding to peer review. If this situation is identified after publication, the article may be subject to correction, an expression of concern or retraction, as appropriate.

Unacceptable Practices

Regardless of the overall similarity percentage, a manuscript may be rejected if any of the following practices are identified:

  • Reproduction of texts, ideas, data, tables or figures without appropriate attribution.
  • Plagiarism in substantive sections of the manuscript, including the Results, Discussion or Conclusions.
  • Inappropriate recycling of an author’s own text or redundant publication without proper citation or editorial justification.
  • Improper use of previously published material under incompatible licences.
  • Unjustified fragmentation of research findings for the purpose of generating multiple publications (salami slicing).

Procedure in Cases of Suspected Plagiarism

When plagiarism, inappropriate text recycling or redundant publication is suspected, the editorial team shall:

  • Assess the seriousness, extent, location and context of the similarities.
  • Verify the original sources and the possible existence of related publications.
  • Request a formal explanation from the corresponding author, where appropriate.
  • Evaluate the response and supporting documentation before reaching a decision.

Editorial measures may include:

  • A request for revisions or corrections.
  • Rejection of the manuscript.
  • Publication of a correction or expression of concern.
  • Retraction of the article.
  • Notification of the authors’ affiliated institutions in particularly serious cases.

All decisions shall be made in accordance with the guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international standards of integrity in scientific publishing.

Declaration of Originality

By submitting a manuscript to Imperium Académico Multidisciplinary Journal (IAMJ), authors declare and warrant that the work is original, that all sources used have been properly cited and that the content complies with this plagiarism and similarity detection policy.

Failure to comply with these provisions constitutes a breach of publication ethics and may result in the corresponding measures.