PLAGIARISM POLICY

Commitment and Scope

JBPT is committed to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics. The journal follows ICMJE, HEC, and COPE guidelines to detect and handle all forms of plagiarism, including text, ideas, results, images, figures, self-plagiarism, redundant publication, salami slicing, and text recycling. Authors are responsible for the originality and intellectual contribution of their work. Ignorance of plagiarism is not considered a valid excuse.

Screening and Similarity Index

All submitted manuscripts are screened using Turnitin. A similarity index (SI) of 16% or higher may lead to rejection or revision. Exclusions in plagiarism checks are limited to properly cited quotations, bibliographic references, phrases, formulas, and institutional names. Manuscripts with unacknowledged copying or attempts to mislead will not be considered for publication.

Investigation and Disciplinary Actions

Suspected plagiarism, whether in submitted, accepted, or published articles, is reviewed by the Disciplinary Committee (Editorial Board and Editor-in-Chief) following COPE guidelines. Authors are contacted and must respond within 30 days. Depending on the investigation outcome, the journal may: retract or correct the publication, reject the manuscript, debar authors temporarily or permanently, and notify the author’s institution, funders, or relevant authorities.

Post-Publication Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected after publication, a thorough investigation is conducted. The plagiarized content is marked, and a retraction may be issued depending on severity. Authors must disclose if content has been previously published in another language, and translations are accepted only with proper citation or complete rephrasing.

Self-Plagiarism and Ethics

Reproducing substantial portions of one’s previously published work without proper citation is prohibited, while referencing prior work is allowed. Plagiarism undermines research ethics, the integrity of the scholarly record, and the value of scientific work.

Authors’ Responsibility

JBPT calls upon authors to ensure accuracy, originality, and transparency in their submissions. Scholars are encouraged to report suspected plagiarism in any publication, providing sufficient documentation for editorial review.