Plagiarism and Research Misconduct Policy

Journal “Chemistry, Physics and Technology of Surface” maintains a strict policy against plagiarism and all forms of research and publication misconduct. The journal is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record and follows the principles and guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

The journal reserves the right to take appropriate action in all cases of suspected or confirmed misconduct.

 

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another person’s ideas, text, data, images, or other intellectual property without proper acknowledgment or permission.

The journal considers the following to constitute plagiarism:

  • verbatim copying of text without citation;
  • paraphrasing substantial parts of another work without attribution;
  • self-plagiarism (reuse of significant portions of one’s own previously published work without disclosure);
  • inappropriate reuse of figures, tables, or data;
  • translation of previously published content without proper citation.

 

Screening and Detection

All submitted manuscripts may be screened for plagiarism using similarity-detection software and editorial assessment via StrikePlagiarism (https://strikeplagiarism.com/ ).

The Editorial Office evaluates similarity reports in context, taking into account:

  • acceptable levels of similarity in scholarly writing;
  • properly cited references;
  • methodological overlap in technical descriptions.

Detection of similarity does not automatically constitute misconduct; however, unexplained or excessive similarity may result in rejection or further investigation.

 

Types of Research Misconduct

The journal recognizes the following forms of research and publication misconduct.

Fabrication and Falsification of Data

  • invention of data or results;
  • manipulation of research data or images;
  • selective reporting that misrepresents findings.

Duplicate and Redundant Publication

  • submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals;
  • publication of substantially overlapping works without disclosure;
  • “salami slicing” of research into multiple publications without justification.

Citation Manipulation

  • inappropriate citation practices intended to artificially increase citation metrics;
  • addition of citations unrelated to the scientific content.

Authorship Misconduct

  • inclusion of individuals who made no significant contribution (gift authorship);
  • exclusion of authors who meet authorship criteria;
  • undisclosed ghostwriting.

Reviewer Manipulation

  • falsification of reviewer identities;
  • interference with the peer-review process;
  • submission of fabricated reviewer recommendations.

 

Editorial Actions

In cases of suspected plagiarism or misconduct, the journal follows COPE recommendations and may take one or more of the following actions:

  • request clarification or explanation from authors;
  • request original data or supporting documentation;
  • reject the manuscript at any stage of review;
  • notify relevant institutions or funding bodies;
  • publish corrections, expressions of concern, or retractions;
  • impose submission restrictions on responsible authors.

All cases are handled confidentially and fairly, ensuring due process for all parties involved.

 

Post-Publication Misconduct

If misconduct is identified after publication, the journal will investigate the matter and may:

  • publish corrections if errors are minor;
  • issue an expression of concern during investigation;
  • retract the article in cases of serious ethical violations or unreliable findings.

Retracted articles will remain accessible online but will be clearly marked as “Retracted” with an explanation of the reason for retraction.

 

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors must ensure that:

  • all submitted work is original;
  • all sources are properly cited;
  • permissions for reused materials have been obtained;
  • presented data are accurate and have not been manipulated;
  • all co-authors approved the submitted version.

Authors are expected to cooperate fully with editorial investigations regarding suspected misconduct.

 

Responsibilities of Reviewers and Editors

Reviewers and editors must:

  • report any suspicion of plagiarism or misconduct;
  • maintain confidentiality of investigations;
  • avoid conflicts of interest;
  • follow COPE guidance and best practices in ethical cases.

 

The journal may use Use of Similarity Detection Tools

plagiarism-detection software as part of the editorial process. Results are interpreted by editors and are not used as the sole basis for editorial decisions.

 

Ethical Framework

The journal follows international publication ethics standards, including:

 

Policy Updates

The Editorial Board reserves the right to update this policy in accordance with developments in international publication ethics and COPE recommendations.

 

Last updated: 2026