Plagiarism Policy

The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward plagiarism. All submitted manuscripts are subjected to plagiarism detection screening using industry-standard tools such as iThenticate and Turnitin before entering peer review. Our policy aligns with the ethical standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

“Originality is the cornerstone of scientific integrity — plagiarism undermines trust, innovation, and scholarship.”

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism refers to the use of another person’s ideas, words, data, or creative work without proper acknowledgment. It includes but is not limited to:

• Copying text, figures, or tables without citation or permission.
• Rephrasing ideas or concepts without attribution (“paraphrasing plagiarism”).
• Self-plagiarism — republishing one’s previously published work as new.
• Duplicate or redundant publication across different journals.
• Using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content without disclosure.

Plagiarism Detection Procedure

Every submission to ACEO undergoes an initial similarity check through iThenticate prior to editorial assignment. The results determine whether the manuscript proceeds to peer review, is returned for revision, or is rejected.

Similarity percentages are interpreted contextually. Overlaps due to common terminology, methods, or references may be acceptable when properly cited.

Handling of Plagiarism Cases

When plagiarism is detected, the editorial office takes the following steps according to COPE’s Flowcharts for Suspected Plagiarism:

• Notify the corresponding author with the similarity report and request an explanation.
• Provide a defined period (usually 7–10 days) for a response.
• Evaluate intent and extent of plagiarism (minor overlap vs. deliberate copying).
• Decide on appropriate action: correction, rejection, or retraction.

Types of Plagiarism

• Direct plagiarism: Copying sentences or paragraphs verbatim without quotation or citation.
• Mosaic plagiarism: Borrowing phrases from multiple sources and mixing them as original work.
• Self-plagiarism: Republishing identical or near-identical content from previously published articles.
• Data plagiarism: Using another researcher’s data or figures without permission or acknowledgment.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Confirmed plagiarism results in immediate editorial action, which may include:

• Rejection of the manuscript.
• Notification to the author’s institution or funding body.
• Retraction of already published articles with formal notices.
• Blacklisting of the author for future submissions.

Author Responsibilities

• Ensure originality and proper citation of all sources.
• Retain documentation for quoted or adapted materials.
• Obtain permission for reuse of copyrighted figures, tables, or data.
• Use plagiarism detection software prior to submission.

Editorial and Reviewer Role

Editors and reviewers share responsibility for maintaining publication ethics. They are expected to:

• Identify uncredited similarities or overlapping text.
• Report suspected plagiarism to the editorial office confidentially.
• Ensure objectivity and confidentiality throughout investigations.

Use of AI-Assisted Tools

Authors must disclose any use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, Copilot) in the manuscript preparation process. Failure to declare such assistance, especially when it contributes to content generation, is considered unethical under ACEO policy.

Plagiarism Prevention and Training

ACEO promotes educational awareness to prevent plagiarism through author workshops and editorial webinars. The journal encourages authors to familiarize themselves with ethical writing practices from COPE and ICMJE.

Retraction Policy

If plagiarism is discovered post-publication, the article will be retracted following COPE’s guidelines. Retraction notices clearly indicate the reason and remain accessible on the journal website.

Examples of Ethical and Unethical Practices

Appeals and Complaints

Authors who disagree with plagiarism findings may appeal by providing evidence of originality or legitimate citation within 14 days. Appeals are reviewed by the editorial ethics committee independently.

Conclusion

By enforcing a strict plagiarism policy, ACEO safeguards academic integrity and ensures that published work represents original, verifiable, and ethical scientific contributions. All authors are urged to uphold honesty and respect in their scholarly communication.