Plagiarism Policy

The Journal of Robotics and Intelligent Systems (JRIS) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical publishing. Originality is a fundamental requirement for publication, and all submitted manuscripts are expected to represent the authors' own work.

JRIS has a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism, duplicate publication, data fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, and other forms of research misconduct.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person's ideas, text, figures, tables, data, software, or other intellectual property as one's own without proper acknowledgment or permission.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text without appropriate citation or quotation.
  • Using ideas, methods, or results without proper attribution.
  • Copying figures, tables, images, or datasets without permission or citation.
  • Submitting another person's work under one's own name.
  • Translating published work without proper acknowledgment.
  • Purchasing or submitting manuscripts produced by third parties.
  • Using artificial intelligence (AI) generated content without appropriate disclosure when required by the journal.

Similarity Index Policy

The maximum permissible text similarity rate (similarity index) for submissions to this journal is 25%, as measured by plagiarism-detection software. Submissions exceeding this threshold will be returned to authors for revision or rejected prior to peer review.

Self-Plagiarism

Authors must not substantially reuse their own previously published work without proper citation.

Examples of self-plagiarism include:

  • Republishing the same manuscript in another journal.
  • Reusing large portions of previously published text without citation.
  • Dividing a single study into multiple publications ("salami publication") without scientific justification.
  • Republishing conference papers without significant extension and proper disclosure.

Where previous work is reused appropriately, authors must clearly cite the original publication.

Similarity Screening

All manuscripts submitted to JRIS may be screened using plagiarism-detection software before peer review and, where necessary, during the editorial process.

The similarity report is evaluated by the editorial team to distinguish between acceptable overlap (such as references, standard terminology, or correctly cited quotations) and potential plagiarism.

Editorial decisions are based on the nature, source, and significance of overlapping material rather than on a single similarity percentage.

Acceptable Similarity

A similarity report does not automatically indicate plagiarism.

The editorial office considers factors including:

  • Proper citation and attribution;
  • Overlap within the references section;
  • Standard methodological descriptions;
  • Common technical terminology;
  • Legitimate quotations; and
  • Reuse permitted under applicable licenses.

Each manuscript is assessed individually by the handling editor.

Editorial Actions

If potential plagiarism is identified, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Request clarification from the authors.
  • Request revision and proper citation.
  • Return the manuscript for correction before peer review.
  • Reject the manuscript.
  • Suspend the review process pending investigation.
  • Notify the authors' institution or funding agency when serious misconduct is confirmed.
  • Retract a published article if plagiarism is discovered after publication.

The Editor-in-Chief has the final authority regarding editorial decisions.

Duplicate Submission

Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.

If duplicate submission is identified during editorial review, the manuscript will be rejected immediately.

Duplicate Publication

Previously published articles are generally not considered for publication in JRIS.

Exceptions may include:

  • Corrected versions approved by the editorial office;
  • Invited translations with appropriate permissions;
  • Extended versions of conference papers that contain substantial new scientific contributions and clearly acknowledge the earlier publication.

Citation Manipulation

Authors must cite only literature that is directly relevant to their research.

The following practices are considered unethical:

  • Excessive self-citation intended to inflate citation metrics.
  • Citation stacking.
  • Adding irrelevant references to satisfy reviewers or editors.
  • Manipulating reference lists to influence bibliometric indicators.

Editors and reviewers are expected to avoid requesting unnecessary citations.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors are responsible for ensuring that:

  • Their submission is entirely original.
  • All sources are appropriately cited.
  • Permission has been obtained for copyrighted materials where required.
  • All co-authors have reviewed and approved the submitted manuscript.
  • Any overlapping publications are disclosed to the editorial office.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Evaluating similarity reports fairly and objectively.
  • Investigating suspected plagiarism.
  • Maintaining confidentiality during investigations.
  • Following internationally accepted ethical guidelines when addressing allegations of misconduct.
  • Making editorial decisions based on scientific evidence and ethical considerations.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are encouraged to notify the handling editor if they suspect:

  • Plagiarism;
  • Duplicate publication;
  • Image manipulation;
  • Data fabrication;
  • Improper citation practices; or
  • Other forms of research misconduct.

All concerns will be treated confidentially.

Post-Publication Misconduct

If plagiarism or other forms of publication misconduct are identified after publication, JRIS will investigate the matter in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics Policy and the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the journal may publish:

  • A correction (Erratum or Corrigendum);
  • An Expression of Concern;
  • A Retraction; or
  • Another editorial notice considered appropriate to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Commitment to Research Integrity

JRIS is dedicated to promoting honesty, transparency, fairness, and scientific integrity throughout the publication process. Authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher share responsibility for maintaining the quality and credibility of the scientific literature.

The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and encourages all participants in the publication process to uphold the highest standards of responsible research and scholarly publishing.