Plagiarism and Generative AI Policy

Last Updated: August 2026

DScholar Press International is dedicated to protecting research integrity and upholding the highest ethical standards across all published volumes. This policy establishes clear standards regarding academic originality, similarity thresholds, anti-plagiarism screening procedures, and the ethical boundaries for utilizing Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLMs).

1. Plagiarism & Research Misconduct

Plagiarism in any form—including verbatim copying, uncredited paraphrasing, self-plagiarism (text recycling), unauthorized image manipulation, or data fabrication—is strictly prohibited. All submitted proposals, book chapters, and full monographs undergo automated similarity screening via industry-standard software (e.g., Turnitin / iThenticate) prior to initiating double-blind peer review.

Similarity Indices & Screening Guidelines

  • Maximum Similarity Threshold: Manuscripts generally must maintain an overall similarity index of less than 10-15% (excluding reference lists, standard bibliographies, and properly cited direct quotes).
  • Single-Source Limit: Text overlap from any single external source must not exceed 3%.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Reusing significant passages of an author's previously published books, journal papers, or conference proceedings without explicit citation and copyright clearance is disallowed.

2. Generative AI & Large Language Model (LLM) Policy

Recognizing the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence technologies in academic research, DScholar Press International aligns its rules with international research ethics bodies (such as COPE). We enforce strict boundaries on how AI tools can be utilized during manuscript preparation:

AI Usage Rules for Authors & Contributors:

  • No AI Authorship: Generative AI models (such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) cannot be listed as an author or co-author on any publication. Authorship carries legal accountability, rights retention, and ethical responsibility that machines cannot fulfill.
  • Mandatory Disclosure: Authors who utilize generative AI or AI-assisted technology for technical writing, data analysis, coding, or visual generation must explicitly disclose its use in a dedicated "AI and AI-Assisted Technologies Statement" in the manuscript (or within the Acknowledgments section).
  • Permissible AI Use: Using AI tools for basic grammar checking, language editing, formatting, or reference arrangement is permitted without formal disclosure, provided it does not alter the original scholarly argument or create synthetic content.
  • Author Accountability: Authors bear full responsibility for all content in their manuscript, including verifying that AI-generated citations, data, or technical summaries are factual, accurate, and free of plagiarized material or fabrications ("hallucinations").

3. AI Policy for Peer Reviewers & Editors

To safeguard author intellectual property and uphold strict confidentiality during peer review:

  • Peer reviewers and volume editors must never upload submitted manuscripts, chapters, or proposals into public or third-party AI tools.
  • Review reports and evaluation decisions must be authored directly by human experts; automated, AI-generated peer review assessments are strictly prohibited.

4. Malpractice Handling & Sanctions

If plagiarism, uncredited AI generation, or data manipulation is detected prior to publication, the manuscript will be desk-rejected immediately. If misconduct is confirmed post-publication, DScholar Press International will initiate formal protocols, which may include publishing an official Expression of Concern, issuing a Formal Retraction Notice, or notifying the author's home institution.