Plagiarism Policy

At Fuel Cells Bulletin Journal, we are committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical conduct. Plagiarism undermines the credibility of scholarly research and compromises the integrity of the publication process. This policy outlines our approach to detecting and addressing plagiarism to ensure that all published content is original and properly attributed.

1. Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work, ideas, or words without proper attribution, thereby presenting them as one's own. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Direct Plagiarism: Copying text verbatim from a source without citation.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing portions of one’s own previously published work without proper citation or permission.
  • Mosaic Plagiarism: Incorporating phrases or ideas from other sources without quotation marks or proper attribution.
  • Accidental Plagiarism: Unintentionally failing to cite sources or paraphrasing incorrectly.

2. Prevention Measures

Submission Requirements:

  • Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are original and have not been published or submitted elsewhere. All sources of information and ideas must be properly cited.
  • Authors should use plagiarism detection tools to check their work before submission to minimize the risk of accidental plagiarism.

Citation and Referencing:

  • Proper citation of all sources, including text, data, and ideas, is required. Follow the journal’s reference style guide for accurate formatting.

3. Detection of Plagiarism

Plagiarism Detection Tools:

  • Fuel Cells Bulletin Journal employs plagiarism detection software to screen submitted manuscripts for potential instances of plagiarism. This helps identify copied content and ensure originality.

Review Process:

  • During the peer review process, reviewers are encouraged to report any suspected instances of plagiarism or lack of proper citation.

4. Handling Plagiarism

Initial Assessment:

  • If plagiarism is detected, the editorial team conducts an initial assessment to determine the extent and nature of the issue.

Author Notification:

  • Authors will be notified if plagiarism is suspected or identified. They will be given an opportunity to respond to allegations and provide clarification or corrections.

Actions and Sanctions:

  • Depending on the severity and nature of the plagiarism, potential actions may include:
    • Request for Revision: Authors may be asked to revise the manuscript to address issues of plagiarism.
    • Rejection: Manuscripts with significant or intentional plagiarism may be rejected.
    • Retract or Correct Published Articles: If plagiarism is identified post-publication, the journal may issue a correction or retraction to address the issue and preserve the integrity of the scientific record.

Repeat Offenses:

  • Authors found to have engaged in plagiarism multiple times may face a ban from submitting to the journal in the future.

5. Responsibilities of Authors

Originality:

  • Authors must ensure that all submitted work is original and properly cited. They should avoid any form of plagiarism and take responsibility for the originality of their manuscript.

Disclosure:

  • Authors must disclose any previous or concurrent submissions of related content and ensure proper attribution of sources.

6. Reporting Plagiarism

Reporting Mechanism:

  • If you suspect plagiarism in any submitted or published work, please report your concerns to the journal’s editorial office. All reports will be investigated thoroughly.