Cases of Plagiarism and Consequences
In this fast-paced world, many of us intentionally or unintentionally imitate the existing work of others without acknowledging them.
We used to get inspired by the existing work and try to create a new piece with the help of these existing pieces. However, the newly created piece should be unique; otherwise, it will be a case of plagiarism.
This article revolves around cases of plagiarism and consequences.
Why Do People Plagiarise?
At its core, people plagiarise for a variety of reasons, ranging from the pressure to succeed and lack of confidence in their own abilities to a misunderstanding of what constitutes plagiarism and how to properly cite sources.
Some of the reasons are stated below, which will give you an overview of why people plagiarise:
7 Cases of Plagiarism and Consequences
Plagiarism has been a persistent issue across various fields, including academia, literature, journalism, and music.
Here are some notable cases of plagiarism that highlight the breadth of the problem:
Plagiarism of Research Papers
The University Executive Council banned the professor of chemistry at Sri Venketeshwar University because of plagiarism. He was accused of plagiarising almost 70 research papers.
All these research papers were published between 2004 and 2007. He was not only banned from taking any future research guidance but was also banned from taking any work related to upcoming examinations.
Kavya Viswanathan Faces Acquisition of Plagiarism on Her Debut Novel
A student of Harvard University faced a severe case of plagiarism for her debut novel, "How Opel Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild, and Got a Life."
It was believed that some of the sessions were lifted from a novel, "Sloppy First and Second Helpings," by Megan Cafferty. The lifting details were published in the university's newsletter in 2006.
Due to this acquisition, her career was almost over. Though she said it was unintentional, no one believed her. The contract that she made with a few other books and the movie deal were all cancelled.
Case of Academic Plagiarism at Rutgers University
Instances of academic misconduct have also affected various other institutions. A notable incident occurred at Rutgers University in 2011, where a significant case of plagiarism came to light.
A graduate student named Amanda Serpico faced allegations of plagiarising her end-of-term paper on the topic of same-sex marriage legislation.
The plagiarism detection service Turnitin was instrumental in identifying the similarities between her work and existing sources. This led to a detailed investigation and subsequent explanations from Serpico.
This well-known case of academic dishonesty concluded with Serpico receiving a failing grade for both the paper and the course.?
Helpful Resource: What is academic plagiarism?
Jayson Blair's Fraud Rocks NYT
Jayson Blair, an editor at the New York Times, engaged in significantly more unethical practices than his peer, Lloyd Brown. He deliberately engaged in intellectual dishonesty on a regular basis.
A review of Blair's articles revealed his use of fabricated information, images, and other elements to bolster his narratives.
The negative impact of his substandard contributions to the NYT was immense, and the editorial board recognised this issue as stemming from inadequate staff coordination.
领英推荐
Ghostbusters Song Dispute Settled Privately
The memorable theme song for "Ghostbusters," attributed to Ray Parker Jr., was actually a collaborative effort, though Parker's co-authorship was only acknowledged well after the song's debut.
A legal dispute arose when Huey Lewis challenged Parker, citing the resemblance of "Ghostbusters" to his own 1984 chart-topper, "I Want a New Drug."?
The case was solved outside of court, and the song could not be used in media in the same way again.
First Lady's Speech Plagiarism
This incident, involving a high-profile figure, the First Lady of the United States, became one of the most well-known cases of plagiarism.
Melania Trump was found to have copied portions of a speech originally delivered by Michelle Obama in 2008.
The discovery led to widespread criticism of Mrs. Trump across the internet, and the incident continued to be a topic of discussion in news outlets and on social media for some time.
Adobe and Apple Case
In 2010, a legal battle unfolded between Adobe and Apple over the unauthorised use of Adobe's Flash technology in the iPhone.
The dispute was resolved privately, resulting in Apple entering into a licensing agreement with Adobe and compensating them financially.
5 Plagiarism Cases That Went to Court
'Blurred Lines' Case
In 2013, the hit song "Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams was at the center of a high-profile plagiarism case when Marvin Gaye's children accused them of copying Gaye's 1977 song "Got to Give It Up."
The jury found that "Blurred Lines" had a similar sound and feel to Gaye's work, leading to a verdict of copyright infringement. Initially, Gaye's estate was awarded $7.4 million, which was later reduced to $5.3 million on appeal.
This case highlighted the complexities of copyright law, especially regarding the "feel" and "groove" of music, setting a precedent that concerned many songwriters and composers about the potential for future litigation over musical similarities.
Biden's Plagiarism Ends Presidential Run
In 1988, Senator Joseph Biden faced accusations of plagiarism, leading to his withdrawal from the presidential race. He acknowledged that he had inappropriately copied text in an introductory methodology class without proper citation.
Seeking to restore his credibility, Biden took the matter to the Delaware Supreme Court, which ultimately dismissed the charges. However, Biden's career was later marred by another plagiarism scandal, this time involving his public speeches.
He failed to attribute proper credit to figures like Senator Kennedy and Neil Kinnock. These incidents of plagiarism culminated in Biden stepping down from his presidential campaign.
Microsoft Settles OS Code Dispute
Microsoft faced allegations of incorporating code from various operating systems into its own Windows OS without authorisation.
The dispute led to numerous legal confrontations, with several firms asserting that their technological innovations had been used by Microsoft without permission or acknowledgment.
Ultimately, Microsoft resolved these disputes by agreeing to a settlement that involved paying substantial amounts in compensation and committing to discontinue the use of specific components from the other operating systems.
Haley Settles 'Roots' Plagiarism Case
The well-known author Alex Haley claimed that his book "Roots," which won the Pulitzer Prize, was inspired by the history of his own family. In 1978, he was accused of using parts of Harold Courlander's "The African" in his own work.
The lawsuit, which lasted five weeks, ended with an out-of-court settlement, even though Haley initially denied using Courlander's thoughts and text.
Haley agreed to pay $650,000, which is more than $2 million today, and admitted in public that parts of "The African" had been used in "Roots."
This blog was originally published on the Bytescare Blog.