Scope
Plagiarism includes presenting another person's language, ideas, structure, data, images, or other intellectual contribution as one's own. Inappropriate reuse of an author's own published material may also be unacceptable when it is extensive, redundant, or not disclosed and cited.
Screening and assessment
Submissions may be checked with similarity-detection tools. A similarity score does not by itself establish misconduct. Editors assess the nature, extent, location, citation, originality, and likely explanation of matched material.
Author response
When a material concern is identified, the journal may ask the authors for an explanation, source documents, permissions, or a corrected manuscript. Review may be paused while the concern is assessed.
Possible actions
Depending on severity and publication status, action may include correction before review, rejection, withdrawal of acceptance, publication of a correction, retraction, restrictions on future submissions, or communication with an institution or other responsible body.