# How should I handle scientific plagiarism? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276 "2006-11-21T12:32:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/1 "2006-11-21T12:32:34Z")
I just received an e-mail from a professor at a foreign university alerting me to the fact that he’s discovered a case where other scientists have plagiarised my work. He writes (translated by me into English): > [@](#): > > In the course of research for one of my own publications, I stumbled upon a a manuscript available on the Internet, [_title, authors, and URL of publication redacted_]. When I compared this paper to your article of 2003, [_title of my publication redacted_], it seemed to me that this paper was largely copied word-for-word, without attribution, from yours. Though your paper is cited in five places, nowhere is it admitted that entire pages of text were copied verbatim. Any suggestions for the best way of dealing with this? Should I write to[ol] [li]the authors of the plagiarised paper?[/li][li]the publisher of the plagiarised paper?[/li][li]the universities where authors of the plagiarised paper work?[/li][li]the publisher of my article?[/li][li]all of the above?[/li][li]someone else?[/li][/ol]Should I demand anything besides an acknoweldgment of my work? ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/2 "2006-11-21T12:52:09Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] I just received an e-mail from a professor at a foreign university alerting me to the fact that he’s discovered a case where other scientists have plagiarised my work. He writes (translated by me into English):Any suggestions for the best way of dealing with this? Should I write to[ol] [li]the authors of the plagiarised paper?[/li][li]the publisher of the plagiarised paper?[/li][li]the universities where authors of the plagiarised paper work?[/li][li]the publisher of my article?[/li][li]all of the above?[/li][li]someone else?[/li][/ol]Should I demand anything besides an acknoweldgment of my work? [/QUOTE] At best this is poor academic practice, and at worst it is fraud. You should get, at the least, an acknowledgement of your work. More seriously (in a way), the plagiarists have passed your work off as their own and are perhaps reaping the benefits. Personally I would write to the authors, copied to the universities at which they are placed. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/3 "2006-11-21T13:04:03Z")
Using the whatever-works-best-but-requires-the-least-effort principle I would go for 1 and 2. Write to the authors and simply enclose a copy of your letter to their publishers asking for a formal apology for publishing your material without permission. In the letter to the publishers enclose copies of the plagiarised content. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/4 "2006-11-21T13:14:13Z")
I would talk to your depatment chair and Dean of your college (or equivilant) and see if there is a procedure to be followed. This may be the sort of thing where they will be the most effective advocates for you. If nothing else, the Univeristy’s lawyers can write much more threatening letters than you can. ---
**Author:** ![Silence\_of\_the\_clams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Silence\_of\_the\_clams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silence_of_the_clams)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/5 "2006-11-21T13:21:39Z")
When commenting papers published in a scientific journal, it is common practice to write a letter to the journal to elucidate the problem. The journal will most probably publish a statement and take nescessary measures towards the paper in question, e.g. withdraw it from publication. Kotick ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/6 "2006-11-21T13:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=Manda JO] I would talk to your depatment chair and Dean of your college (or equivilant) and see if there is a procedure to be followed. This may be the sort of thing where they will be the most effective advocates for you. If nothing else, the Univeristy’s lawyers can write much more threatening letters than you can. [/QUOTE] I’m no longer employed at a university, but I’ll contact the Department Head of the university where I wrote the paper and ask if there’s an office that deals with such issues. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/7 "2006-11-21T13:26:45Z")
[QUOTE=Kotick] When commenting papers published in a scientific journal, it is common practice to write a letter to the journal to elucidate the problem. The journal will most probably publish a statement and take nescessary measures towards the paper in question, e.g. withdraw it from publication. [/QUOTE] The plagiarised paper isn’t a journal paper. It appears to be some sort of technical report published by a university department’s research lab in support of a request for, or in fulfillment of the requirements of, a research grant. If I can find out what the granting institution is, then they might cancel the grant for the plagiarists, but they’re certainly not going to give the money to me instead. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/8 "2006-11-21T13:30:48Z")
[QUOTE=psychonaut] The plagiarised paper isn’t a journal paper. It appears to be some sort of technical report published by a university department’s research lab in support of a request for, or in fulfillment of the requirements of, a research grant. If I can find out what the granting institution is, then they might cancel the grant for the plagiarists, but they’re certainly not going to give the money to me instead. ☹ [/QUOTE] Well then don’t worry about it. They are merely quoting you as an expert resource who agrees with their position. Keep copies for your CV. It’s the old standing on the shoulders of giants thing. In this case you are the Giant. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/9 "2006-11-21T13:31:38Z")
An update from my informant (who is now helpfully writing in English), with identifying information omitted: > [@](#): > > I’ve double checked it as well and have used an LSA-based plagiarism detector (currently under development). At least big parts of the passages about [various subjects] are copied literally word by word. God knows where the other passages in the manuscript have been “borrowed”. The first step would probably be to contact the authors and to insist on correct citation of your work. As plagiarism is one of the most severe “crimes” in the scientific community, I would furthermore take direct measures against the [institution at which the plagiarists work], by finding and contacting the responsibly EU institution. After all, this isn’t an internal paper that leaked to the public by chance. Instead it is public material, that has even a citation information on the introductory page. The manuscript mentions European Commission Sixth Framework Project on the top, so this must be a research project funded by the EU. > > I intended to cooperate with the [institution at which the plagiarists work] and to visit a workshop there next March. I already have left a notice about the plagiarism to one member of the team, who hasn’t been involved as an author. Now, I am rethinking my plans to cooperate with them. This mainly depends on how this issue further develops. ---
**Author:** ![defecthunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/45deac/32.png) [@defecthunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/defecthunter)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/10 "2006-11-21T15:59:36Z")
One other thing I would recommend that I haven’t seen mentioned yet is to bring the matter to the attention of the original publisher. They hold the copyright on the original publication and should be notified of any violations. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/11 "2006-11-21T16:16:10Z")
Seems to me like a minor violation no one should be losing their job or probably even funding over. The _did_ cite you, they just failed to cite you every time they should have. I’d just contact the people and tell them to change it. Then, if they don’t, the problem is a little more severe… -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![MarcusF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@MarcusF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MarcusF)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/12 "2006-11-21T16:20:03Z")
Who funded your original work? As your location is in the UK (I like the map reference 🙂 ) I guess it could have been one of the Research Councils. If it was, it might be worth checking their website. I know EPSRC (the Engineering And Physical Sciences Research Council) has guidance on how to handle allegations of scientific misconduct available at [http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/GrantHolders/GuideToGoodPracticeInScienceAndEngineeringResearch.htm](http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/GrantHolders/GuideToGoodPracticeInScienceAndEngineeringResearch.htm) . Otherwise I think your idea of speaking to the University where you were when you published makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Martiju](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e8c25b/32.png) [@Martiju](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martiju)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/13 "2006-11-21T16:20:17Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] Seems to me like a minor violation no one should be losing their job or probably even funding over. The _did_ cite you, they just failed to cite you every time they should have. I’d just contact the people and tell them to change it. Then, if they don’t, the problem is a little more severe… -FrL- [/QUOTE] I’m confused - where do you get that he was cited? It seems to me that they have gathered information from public sources and put them together for a research grant. Certainly seems fraudulant to me. Also, we tell all our students, undergrad onwards, of the seriousness of plagiarism. It therefore doesn’t set a great example when those who preach such do not follow their own guidance. This is why the university themselves would be concerned. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/14 "2006-11-21T18:02:24Z")
[QUOTE= **Martiju**] I’m confused - where do you get that he was cited? [/QUOTE] [QUOTE= **OP’s informant**] Though your paper is cited in five places, nowhere is it admitted that entire pages of text were copied verbatim. [/QUOTE] . Apparently the OP is referenced a few times. The plagerized paper fails to attribute long sections that are quoted verbatim from the OP’s origional work. Depending on the length of these quotes, it might be fair use if they were attributed. (Sounds like it’s worse than that ). Failing such attribution, though, it clearly IS plagerism. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/15 "2006-11-21T18:16:24Z")
[QUOTE=Martiju] I’m confused - where do you get that he was cited? It seems to me that they have gathered information from public sources and put them together for a research grant. Certainly seems fraudulant to me. [/quote] From the OP: > [@](#): > > …your paper is cited in five places, (but) nowhere is it admitted that entire pages of text were copied verbatim. > [@](#): > > Also, we tell all our students, undergrad onwards, of the seriousness of plagiarism. It therefore doesn’t set a great example when those who preach such do not follow their own guidance. This is why the university themselves would be concerned. Yeah, I’m a teaching assistant at a University, so I know how it goes. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/16 "2006-11-21T18:27:50Z")
[QUOTE=don’t ask] Well then don’t worry about it. They are merely quoting you as an expert resource who agrees with their position. Keep copies for your CV. [/QUOTE] The problem, if the OP is explaining the situation correctly, is that they did not, in fact, correctly cite him. This is not a trivial distinction; the original work is the OP’s intellectual property and he deserves acknowledgement. This is particularly important in a technical article or grant proposal/report where the “fair use” standard doesn’t really apply. (Technical articles and reports should be essentially all original materal with explicit citations to references, rather than quoting or rewording reference papers except in passing.) Making an end reference, but using specific statements or whole passages without explicit citation (either parenthetically or in endnotes) is a gross violation of both standard style formats and professional ethics. It’s hard to say whether this is blithe indifference or ignorance to correct citation form, or deliberate plagerism, but at the very least the OP deserves an acknowledgement of his original work as distinct from the derivative work done by by the authors. I’d contact the authors first and CC your department head. If it’s a legimate oversight, they can formally acknowledge you with a return letter and offer capitulation, and nobody gets their panties in a twist. If they don’t, then you have a responsibility to advance it to your university’s legal department. If they’ve done this to you deliberately, then they’re probably doing it chronically to other researchers, and possibly defrauding their grant provider on how much original work they’re actually producing. In short, try a polite letter, then hand it over to the IP sharks. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/17 "2006-11-21T18:35:03Z")
Just a thought, but you might want to get hold of a copy of the suspect paper and check for yourself before relying to much on your correspondent. ---
**Author:** ![Schuyler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@Schuyler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schuyler)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/18 "2006-11-21T21:08:16Z")
I would take this very seriously, if you consider that protecting your intellectual property has any value. If confirmed as you describe, then this is completely unethical, no question, and sounds contrary to copyright and fair use rules, but I am by no means well-informed on those topics. **Stranger On A Train** summed it up very nicely, but I thought I’d add: 1. Have you verified this yourself, according to **Quartz** ’s suggestion? (Who is the guy reporting the plagiarism, anyway?) 2. Have you contacted your co-authors (if any) or your advisor/supervisor for the work in question? 3. The next step might be to write the authors and copy both your/their legal folks. Your first letter would not even need to be at all threatening, just the visibility of who you’ve copied should establish the seriousness of the matter to the other author(s). If your guys are given a heads-up first, then they’ll know in what regards the letter was sent. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/19 "2006-11-21T22:49:17Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Just a thought, but you might want to get hold of a copy of the suspect paper and check for yourself before relying to much on your correspondent. [/QUOTE] I did this before posting here. As I believe I mentioned in my OP, the plagiarised paper is publically available on the Internet. I downloaded a copy and sure enough pages 16 through 18 are lifted from my paper word-for-word or with trivial substitutions. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-i-handle-scientific-plagiarism/381276/20 "2006-11-22T03:16:11Z")
Don’t call the authors. That’ll just alert them that you’re wise to them and give them time to prepare bullshit excuses. Call a lawyer and let them handle it; my guess is your lawyer will contact the publisher. Yeah, I know it costs money, but it may take only a letter on a legal letterhead to get someone’s attention (if you mail them a letter they won’t take you anywheres near as seriously). They may just offer you an apology, which you probably should settle for… in addition to the attribution and the legal fees.