The Journal Pharmaceutical Innovation and Development (JPID) requires all submissions to be original and properly acknowledge the work of others. Plagiarism and misleading reuse of previously published material are unacceptable at any stage of submission, review, or publication.

1. Definition and Scope

Plagiarism involves presenting another person’s words, ideas, data, images, methods, or findings as one’s own without appropriate acknowledgment. It includes:

1. Copying text without proper citation and, where necessary, quotation marks.
2. Paraphrasing another work too closely without sufficient attribution.
3. Translating material from another language without acknowledging its source.
4. Using tables, figures, photographs, or research data without attribution or required permission.
5. Combining passages from multiple sources to create an apparently original manuscript.
6. Presenting another researcher’s unpublished work as the author’s own.
7. Inappropriate text recycling and redundant publication also raise ethical concerns. Authors must disclose substantial overlap with their previous publications and clearly explain the new contribution of the submitted manuscript.

2. Originality Assessment

Submitted manuscripts may undergo text-similarity screening and editorial examination before or during peer review. Additional assessment may be conducted after publication when concerns arise.

Similarity reports are supporting tools, not conclusive evidence of plagiarism. The editorial team considers the location, extent, attribution, and significance of matched material. References, standard terminology, properly attributed quotations, and conventional methodological descriptions are assessed in context.

A low similarity score does not establish originality, and a high score does not automatically establish misconduct. Editorial decisions are based on examination of the underlying content.

3. Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that:

1. The manuscript accurately distinguishes their contributions from existing work.
2. All borrowed ideas, text, data, and visual materials are appropriately acknowledged.
3. Direct quotations are clearly identified and cited.
4. Paraphrasing reflects an independently written explanation with proper attribution.
5. Permission is obtained where required for copyrighted material.
6. Related publications, preprints, theses, and overlapping manuscripts are disclosed.
7. All co-authors have reviewed and approved the submitted work.
8. Use of translation, paraphrasing, or artificial intelligence tools does not remove the obligation to acknowledge sources or make copied material original.

4. Handling Suspected Plagiarism

When potential plagiarism is identified, the editor assesses the evidence and, where appropriate, requests an explanation from the authors. The authors are given a reasonable opportunity to respond before a final determination is made.

The journal distinguishes correctable attribution problems from substantial appropriation of another work. Depending on the findings, editorial action may include:

1. Requesting corrections to citations, quotations, or attribution.
2. Requiring substantive revision before further consideration.
3. Rejecting the manuscript.
4. Contacting the relevant institution or research integrity office when warranted.
5. Correcting or retracting a published article when necessary.
6. Authors must not address a concern merely by changing wording to reduce a similarity score while leaving the underlying misuse unresolved.

5. Concerns Identified After Publication

Allegations involving published articles are assessed with the same attention to evidence and fairness. Authors may be asked to provide source materials, permissions, research records, or an explanation of overlapping content.

Where the concern affects a limited and correctable part of an otherwise reliable article, a correction may be appropriate. Substantial plagiarism or other serious problems may require retraction. If a serious concern remains unresolved, an expression of concern may be considered.

Any published notice should explain the reason for the action and be linked to the affected article.

6. Reporting Concerns and Appeals

Readers, reviewers, and authors may report suspected plagiarism through the journal’s published editorial contact details. Reports should identify the relevant manuscript or article, the suspected source, and the specific passages or materials involved.

Concerns will be handled confidentially to the extent reasonably possible and assessed impartially. Authors may appeal a decision by submitting a reasoned explanation and supporting evidence. A person with a conflict of interest must not lead the assessment.

JPID’s approach prioritizes fair evaluation, appropriate acknowledgment, and the integrity of the scholarly record.