What is Wrong with Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Copying the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as our own ideas and writings amounts to stealing some of the credit for another person’s work and dishonestly obtaining credit for ourselves. Any form of cheating is to be condemned, and plagiarism is no exception. Theft of intellectual work by copying that work is still theft, and should be treated as such. In a commercial or business context, the laws of copyright and patent are designed to help protect companies or individuals from the plagiarism of their work by others for commercial gain. In an academic context, there are no formal laws beyond those of copyright and patent, but the academic community works within very strong conventions that regard all forms of plagiarism as totally unacceptable and strongly to be condemned. Academics who are found guilty of plagiarism have their reputations and careers damaged or destroyed. In a University undergraduate context, plagiarism is most serio
Plagiarism is a form of cheating. Copying the ideas or writings of others and presenting them as our own ideas and writings amounts to stealing some of the credit for another person’s work and dishonestly obtaining credit for ourselves. Any form of cheating is to be condemned, and plagiarism is no exception. Theft of intellectual work by copying that work is still theft, and should be treated as such. In a commercial or business context, the laws of copyright and patent are designed to help protect companies or individuals from the plagiarism of their work by others for commercial gain. In an academic context, there are no formal laws beyond those of copyright and patent, but the academic community works within very strong conventions that regard all forms of plagiarism as totally unacceptable and strongly to be condemned. Academics who are found guilty of plagiarism have their reputations and careers damaged or destroyed. In a University undergraduate context, plagiarism is most serio
