Plagiarism Policy

§ 1 What JMMBS Considers Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text, tables, images, or ideas without clear citation and permission where required.
• Paraphrasing substantial portions of another work without attribution.
• Using another author's structure, flow, or argument as a template without proper credit.
• Inaccurate, fabricated, or missing references that misrepresent the source.

§ 2 Similarity Screening

All manuscripts may be screened using recognised similarity-detection methods (software and editorial review). A similarity report is used as a flagging tool — not as an automatic verdict.

§ 3 Self-Plagiarism & Redundant Publication

Self-plagiarism is the substantial reuse of one's own previously published or submitted content without disclosure and citation.

• Prior conference abstracts and presentations must be disclosed at the time of submission.
• Preprints are permitted if disclosed at submission, properly cited, and the manuscript is not simultaneously under review elsewhere.
• Salami slicing — fragmenting a single study into multiple minimal publications — may result in rejection.

§ 4 Duplicate Submission

Submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals at the same time is not permitted. Discovery of duplicate submission will result in immediate rejection and may be reported to relevant institutional authorities.

§ 5 Images, Figures & Permissions

Authors must ensure that all figures, tables, photographs, and diagrams included in a submission are either:

• Original — created by the submitting authors for this work; or
• Reproduced with explicit permission from the copyright holder; or
• Used under an appropriate open licence (e.g. CC BY) with correct attribution and full compliance with licence terms.

§ 6 Use of AI Tools & Originality

If AI tools assisted in writing, editing, or generating content, authors:

• Maintain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the submitted work.
• Must ensure that no copyrighted content has been inappropriately reproduced via AI-generated outputs.
• Must disclose material AI use in the manuscript where required by journal policy or where it is relevant to the methodology.

§ 7 Actions Taken by the Journal

Depending on the severity and nature of the misconduct identified, the journal may take one or more of the following actions:

• Request revision and re-submission with a clear written explanation
• Reject the manuscript at any stage of the review process
• Notify the authors' institutions or funding bodies
• For published articles: issue a formal correction, expression of concern, or retraction where warranted by evidence

§ 8 Appeals & Author Response

Authors who believe a similarity or misconduct determination is incorrect may submit a written appeal to the editorial office. Appeals must include a clear, point-by-point response addressing each flagged overlap, with supporting clarification or documentation as appropriate.

§ 9 Reporting Suspected Plagiarism

Third parties — including readers, reviewers, and other researchers — who suspect plagiarism in a published or submitted JMMBS article are encouraged to contact the editorial office with documented evidence.