Plagiarism Policy

International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB)         
P-ISSN: 3117-5937 | E-ISSN: 3117-5945

The International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB) is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, originality, and ethical publishing. Plagiarism is considered a serious violation of scholarly ethics and is strictly prohibited in any form.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unethical act of using another author’s ideas, methods, results, or words without proper acknowledgment of the original source. This includes both published and unpublished material.

Plagiarism also includes self-plagiarism, where authors reuse significant portions of their own previously published work without appropriate citation or disclosure.

Examples of Plagiarism

  • Copying text, data, or ideas without proper citation
  • Presenting another researcher’s work as one’s own
  • Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals
  • Republishing the same research findings without disclosure
  • Reusing previously published content without acknowledgment

Acceptable Similarity Limit

All manuscripts submitted to IJMMB are screened using reliable plagiarism detection tools such as Turnitin or equivalent software.

  • Maximum acceptable similarity index: 15%
  • Excludes: references, quotations, and common technical terms

Manuscripts exceeding this limit may be returned for revision or rejected depending on the extent and nature of overlap.

Types of Plagiarism

Full Plagiarism

Complete or near-complete copying of an existing work without citation, presenting it as original research.

Partial Plagiarism

Use of significant portions of text, data, or ideas from multiple sources with minor modifications but without proper attribution.

Self-Plagiarism

Reusing previously published work without proper citation or submitting the same research to multiple journals.

Plagiarism Screening Process

All manuscripts undergo plagiarism screening before peer review.

  • Manuscripts with similarity below 15% proceed to review
  • Manuscripts with high similarity or copied content may be rejected or returned for correction
  • The editorial team evaluates similarity reports carefully, not just percentages but context

Action Against Plagiarism

Before Publication

If plagiarism is detected during review:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript
  • Authors may be asked for clarification or revision

After Publication

If plagiarism is discovered after publication:

  • A formal investigation will be conducted
  • The article may be corrected, flagged, or retracted
  • Author institutions or funding agencies may be notified

Disciplinary Measures

In cases of confirmed plagiarism, IJMMB may take the following actions:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript
  • Retraction of published articles
  • Temporary or permanent ban on future submissions
  • Notification to the author’s institution or organization
  • Public disclosure of the ethical violation (if required)

Author Responsibility

Authors are fully responsible for ensuring that their submissions are original and ethically prepared.

Authors must:

  • Properly cite all sources
  • Acknowledge all references and contributions
  • Obtain permission for copyrighted materials when required
  • Ensure compliance with ethical publishing standards

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The International Journal of Modern Microbiology (IJMMB) strongly supports ethical research practices and is dedicated to maintaining academic honesty, originality, and transparency in scholarly publishing.

The journal ensures that all published research contributes responsibly and ethically to the advancement of microbiology and scientific knowledge.