Plagiarism Prevention Policy

The Indonesian Journal of Feminist Legal Studies (IJFLS) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and responsible research conduct. The journal recognizes plagiarism as a serious violation of scholarly ethics that undermines the credibility of academic communication and the integrity of the scientific record.

In accordance with the ethical principles recommended by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), IJFLS adopts a strict policy against all forms of plagiarism, including plagiarism of ideas, text, data, methodology, and previously published materials. The journal requires all authors to ensure that submitted manuscripts represent original scholarly contributions and that all sources of information, concepts, arguments, and findings from other works are properly acknowledged.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the act of using another person's work, ideas, expressions, data, or intellectual contributions without appropriate acknowledgment or citation. Plagiarism may occur intentionally or unintentionally; however, all forms of plagiarism are considered violations of academic integrity.

Forms of plagiarism prohibited by IJFLS include, but are not limited to:

a. Direct Plagiarism

Direct plagiarism occurs when authors copy words, sentences, paragraphs, or substantial parts of another work without proper quotation marks, citation, or acknowledgment of the original source.

Examples include:

  • Copying text from journal articles, books, conference papers, websites, or other sources without attribution.

  • Reproducing another author's arguments or analysis as original work.

  • Translating another author's work into another language without proper citation.

b. Mosaic or Patchwork Plagiarism

Mosaic plagiarism occurs when authors combine phrases, sentences, structures, or ideas from multiple sources without adequate acknowledgment, creating the appearance of original authorship.

This includes:

  • Replacing several words while maintaining the original sentence structure without citation.

  • Combining copied materials from different sources into a new manuscript without proper attribution.

  • Using another author's conceptual framework or analytical structure without recognition.

c. Plagiarism of Ideas

Plagiarism is not limited to copied text. Authors must also acknowledge the intellectual contributions of others, including:

  • Theoretical frameworks;

  • Research models;

  • Unique arguments;

  • Research approaches;

  • Interpretations and conclusions.

Failure to acknowledge the origin of significant ideas constitutes plagiarism even when the wording has been changed.

d. Self-Plagiarism and Duplicate Publication

Self-plagiarism occurs when authors reuse substantial parts of their own previously published work without appropriate disclosure or citation.

This includes:

  • Republishing the same article or substantially similar content in multiple journals.

  • Reusing previously published paragraphs, analyses, or findings without acknowledgment.

  • Splitting one research project into multiple publications without sufficient scholarly justification (salami publishing).

  • Republishing conference papers or book chapters without informing editors and providing appropriate references.

Authors must disclose any previous dissemination of related research during submission.

e. Data and Methodological Plagiarism

Authors must properly acknowledge the ownership and origin of research materials, including:

  • Previously published datasets;

  • Research instruments;

  • Analytical frameworks;

  • Methodological approaches developed by other researchers.

Unauthorized use or misrepresentation of research data, methods, or findings from other works is considered a violation of research ethics.

2. Plagiarism Screening Process

All manuscripts submitted to IJFLS undergo plagiarism screening as part of the initial editorial assessment before entering the peer review process.

The screening process includes:

  1. Initial Similarity Assessment

    The Editorial Office examines submitted manuscripts using plagiarism detection software to identify potential similarities with existing publications and publicly available sources.

  2. Editorial Evaluation of Similarity Results

    Similarity reports are carefully reviewed by editors. The similarity percentage alone does not determine whether plagiarism has occurred. Editors consider:

    • The nature and location of similarities;

    • Whether the source has been properly cited;

    • The extent and significance of duplicated material;

    • Whether the similarity affects the originality and contribution of the manuscript.

  3. Decision Based on Screening Results

    Depending on the findings, editors may:

    • Proceed with peer review if similarities are acceptable and properly cited;

    • Request clarification or revision from authors;

    • Reject the manuscript if significant plagiarism is identified.

3. Authors' Responsibilities Regarding Originality

By submitting a manuscript to IJFLS, authors confirm that:

  • The manuscript is their original work and has not been plagiarized from other sources.

  • All borrowed ideas, statements, data, and materials have been properly cited.

  • The manuscript has not been published previously or submitted simultaneously to another journal.

  • All contributors who made substantial intellectual contributions are properly recognized as authors.

  • Any reused materials from previous publications are clearly disclosed and appropriately referenced.

  • The manuscript complies with applicable research ethics standards.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of citations and references and for obtaining permission to reproduce copyrighted materials when required.

4. Editorial Actions Against Plagiarism

When plagiarism is detected before publication, IJFLS may take one or more of the following actions:

  • Request authors to provide clarification regarding identified similarities.

  • Require substantial revision with proper attribution.

  • Reject the manuscript immediately.

  • Ban resubmission of manuscripts from authors involved in serious ethical violations for a specified period.

The severity of the action depends on factors including:

  • The extent of plagiarism;

  • Whether plagiarism was intentional;

  • The importance of the copied material;

  • Whether the violation occurred before or after publication.

5. Handling Plagiarism After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after an article has been published, IJFLS will conduct an investigation following COPE ethical guidelines.

Possible actions include:

  • Publishing a correction notice;

  • Issuing an expression of concern;

  • Retracting the article;

  • Notifying relevant institutions or stakeholders when necessary.

A retracted article will remain available in the journal archive with a clear retraction notice to preserve the transparency and integrity of the academic record.

6. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors

Editors are responsible for:

  • Ensuring that plagiarism screening procedures are applied consistently.

  • Evaluating plagiarism concerns objectively and confidentially.

  • Following COPE recommendations when handling suspected misconduct.

  • Protecting the integrity of the journal's published record.

Reviewers

Reviewers are encouraged to:

  • Identify possible plagiarism, duplicate publication, or inappropriate reuse of materials during manuscript evaluation.

  • Report ethical concerns confidentially to the Editor.

  • Avoid using unpublished manuscript content for personal advantage.

7. Commitment to Academic Integrity

IJFLS believes that maintaining originality and ethical research practices is essential for advancing feminist legal scholarship and promoting trust in academic publishing. Through rigorous plagiarism screening, transparent editorial procedures, and adherence to COPE principles, the journal is committed to ensuring that all published articles represent genuine, responsible, and valuable contributions to legal scholarship.

All authors, editors, reviewers, and contributors are expected to share responsibility in protecting academic integrity and maintaining the quality of the scholarly record.