Plagiarism Policy

At Critical Reviews in Biotechnology and Life Sciences (CRBLS), we are committed to maintaining the integrity and trust of the academic community by upholding the highest standards of scholarly publishing. We have a strict Plagiarism Policy to ensure that all manuscripts submitted for publication are original and free from any form of plagiarism or unethical authorship practices.

1. Definition of Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's work, ideas, or data without proper attribution, and can occur in various forms. The following are considered plagiarism:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying someone else’s work word-for-word without proper citation.
  • Paraphrasing Plagiarism: Rewriting someone else’s ideas or findings without proper citation, even if the wording is changed.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one’s own previously published work or parts of it without proper acknowledgment, or submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
  • Data Falsification or Fabrication: Manipulating or creating false data or results and presenting them as original research.
  • Unacknowledged Borrowing: Using someone else’s figures, tables, or images without permission or citation.

2. Prevention and Detection of Plagiarism:

  • Plagiarism Detection: All submitted manuscripts to CRBLS will undergo a rigorous plagiarism check using reliable and widely accepted plagiarism detection software. This process helps identify any similarities with previously published works.

  • Responsibility of Authors: Authors are expected to ensure that their work is entirely original and that all sources, including data, ideas, text, and figures, are properly cited. Any use of previously published work or data must be referenced appropriately to avoid plagiarism.

3. Consequences of Plagiarism:

If plagiarism or unethical authorship practices are detected during the submission or review process, the following actions will be taken:

  • Manuscript Rejection: If plagiarism is detected, the manuscript will be immediately rejected, and the author(s) will be informed. The manuscript will not proceed to peer review or publication.

  • Author Notification: Authors will be notified if any part of their manuscript is found to be plagiarized. They will be given an opportunity to correct the issues and resubmit the manuscript. If the plagiarism is deemed minor (e.g., incorrect or incomplete citations), authors may be asked to revise the manuscript before resubmission.

  • Serious Ethical Violations: In cases of significant plagiarism or ethical violations, such as data fabrication, the manuscript will be rejected, and the authors may be banned from submitting future manuscripts to the journal. The editorial board may also report the case to the author’s institution or relevant authorities, if necessary.

  • Retraction of Published Articles: If plagiarism or other forms of misconduct are discovered after an article has been published, the journal will follow COPE guidelines for retraction. The article will be formally retracted, and a notice of retraction will be issued. The reasons for retraction will be clearly stated to maintain transparency.

4. Handling Self-Plagiarism:

  • Reuse of Own Work: Authors must avoid submitting previously published material or data as new work. If reuse of any content from the author’s prior publications is necessary (e.g., previously published figures, tables, or data), this must be clearly stated in the manuscript, and proper citation must be provided.

  • Dual Submission: Authors must ensure that their manuscript is not submitted simultaneously to another journal. Dual submission is considered unethical, and if detected, both submissions will be withdrawn.

5. Role of Editors and Reviewers:

  • Editorial Responsibility: The editors of CRBLS are responsible for ensuring that plagiarism checks are conducted on all submitted manuscripts. They will also be vigilant in identifying potential ethical violations and taking appropriate action in accordance with this policy.

  • Reviewers’ Role: Peer reviewers are encouraged to report any concerns related to plagiarism or research misconduct during the review process. If a reviewer suspects that a manuscript may have been plagiarized or contains falsified data, they should notify the editorial office immediately for investigation.

6. Best Practices for Authors:

  • Proper Citation: Authors should follow proper citation practices by acknowledging all sources of information, whether directly quoted or paraphrased, in accordance with the journal’s citation style.

  • Use of Quotation Marks: When directly quoting someone else’s work, authors must use quotation marks and provide a complete citation for the source.

  • Data Availability: Authors are encouraged to make their raw data available for public access in reputable repositories, where applicable. This enhances transparency and helps reduce the risk of data manipulation or falsification.

7. Reporting Plagiarism:

If anyone becomes aware of potential plagiarism or ethical violations in a manuscript published or under consideration by CRBLS, they are encouraged to report the issue to the editorial office. Reports will be treated confidentially, and the matter will be thoroughly investigated in accordance with the COPE guidelines.

8. Commitment to Ethical Publishing:

CRBLS is committed to fostering a culture of responsible research and ethical publishing. We believe that upholding ethical standards in publishing is essential to the advancement of knowledge and the credibility of scientific research. By following this Plagiarism Policy, the journal aims to maintain trust with authors, readers, and the broader scientific community.