open access
Plagiarism and self-plagiarism – facts and myths
- Intellectual Property Law Chair, Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland
open access
Abstract
The problem of plagiarism and self-plagiarism is becoming more and more important in the context of the discussion on pathologies in science. Although in many cases these are reprehensible phenomena, the assessment of situations associated with these pejorative terms is not always justified. While using someone else’s work (including, in particular, scientific publications) without the affiliation of authorship is an infringement of copyright moral rights, from a legal point of view, self-plagiarism is a neutral practice. The duplication of one’s work or a significant part of it without a proper and clear reference to an earlier publication may be, however, considered an infringement of the principles of reliability and ethics in science. It may also have negative consequences for procedures for obtaining scientific degrees and titles. It also exposes the author of the self-plagiarism to a loss of scientific credibility and reputation.
Abstract
The problem of plagiarism and self-plagiarism is becoming more and more important in the context of the discussion on pathologies in science. Although in many cases these are reprehensible phenomena, the assessment of situations associated with these pejorative terms is not always justified. While using someone else’s work (including, in particular, scientific publications) without the affiliation of authorship is an infringement of copyright moral rights, from a legal point of view, self-plagiarism is a neutral practice. The duplication of one’s work or a significant part of it without a proper and clear reference to an earlier publication may be, however, considered an infringement of the principles of reliability and ethics in science. It may also have negative consequences for procedures for obtaining scientific degrees and titles. It also exposes the author of the self-plagiarism to a loss of scientific credibility and reputation.
Keywords
plagiarism; self-plagiarism; unreliability in science; authorship
Title
Plagiarism and self-plagiarism – facts and myths
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Review paper
Pages
70-72
Published online
2021-02-05
Page views
858
Article views/downloads
897
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2021;71(1):70-72.
Keywords
plagiarism
self-plagiarism
unreliability in science
authorship
Authors
Justyna Ożegalska-Trybalska
- Dz. U. z 2019 r. poz. 1231 z późn. zm.
- Ożegalska-Trybalska J. The copyright fair use in scientific and publication activities. NOWOTWORY J Oncol. 2020; 70(5): 220–223.
- Dz. U. 2018 poz. 1668.
- Uchwalony przez Zgromadzenie Ogólne Polskiej Akademii Nauk w 2016 r. https://instytucja.pan.pl/index.php/kodeks-etyki-pracownika-naukowego (28.12.2020).
- Roig M. Plagiarism and self-plagiarism: What every author should know. Biochemia Medica. 2010; 20(3): 299.
- Stanisławska-Kloc S. Plagiat contra autoplagiat. In: Matlak A, Stanisławska-Kloc S. ed. Spory o własność intelektualną. Księga jubileuszowa dedykowana Profesorom Januszowi Barcie i Ryszardowi Markiewiczowi. , Warszawa 2013: 1093.
- The European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/european-code-of-conduct-for-research-integrity_horizon_en.pdf (2.12.2020).
- Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals updated December 2019. http://www.icmje.org/icmje-recommendations.pdf (28.12.2020).
- Kodeks etyki w nauce, op. cit. s. 11.