Lex et Praxis Journal is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and adheres to the ethical principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Pre-Review Screening

All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using reliable plagiarism detection software prior to the peer review process.

• A maximum similarity index of 20% is permitted
• All sources must be properly cited and referenced
• Similarity reports are evaluated qualitatively, not based solely on percentage

2. Definition of Misconduct

The journal considers the following as forms of ethical misconduct:

• Plagiarism, including unattributed copying
• Self-plagiarism or redundant publication
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Improper citation or manipulation of references

3. Handling Suspected Plagiarism (Pre-Publication)

If plagiarism or unethical practices are identified during the review process, the following actions may be taken:

• Minor overlap: manuscript returned to authors for revision
• Moderate overlap: request for clarification and mandatory revision
• Severe plagiarism: immediate rejection of the manuscript

The editorial team may consult reviewers and apply COPE guidelines in assessing each case.

4. Post-Publication Actions

If plagiarism or misconduct is discovered after publication, the journal will take appropriate actions, including:

• Issuance of a correction notice
• Publication of an expression of concern
• Retraction of the article

All actions are conducted in accordance with COPE retraction guidelines.

5. Author Responsibility

Authors are fully responsible for:

• Ensuring the originality of their work
• Proper citation of all sources
• Avoiding duplicate submission or publication

Failure to comply with these ethical standards may result in rejection, retraction, and/or notification to the author’s institution.