ethicsincompsci (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ethicsincompsci) wrote2022-08-29 07:07 pm
ethicsincompsci) wrote2022-08-29 07:07 pm
Notes on Questions in Lecture 08/29/2022
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism is taking someone else's work and trying to pass it off as your own.
Is plagiarism illegal in the US?
No it is not illegal, but it is considered dishonorable and normally against ethics codes in schools and workplaces. Though legal action can be taken if it violates the original author's copyright, trademark, or patent, or if there is a breech of contract where only original works are allowed.
How might plagiarism affect a typical professor?
If a professor plagiarizes then they can lose their job, there may be a possibility to be blacklisted for future employers, or some other form of disciplinary action from their school.
How might plagiarism affect a typical student?
A student can lose credit for the assignment, lose scholarships, or depending on the severity, even be kicked out of school.
Is that ethical?
In my opinion its a bit of a grey line for things to be slipping toward not caring about plagiarism. On one hand I don't think it should really matter if you use someone else's words in things that aren't going to be long term. Like if a student is majoring in an engineering or technology degree, but has to take an art analysis course that is a general requirement for a degree. Very few of those students would use any information they obtain in that class in their future careers.
While I understand you can't separate the students who, plagiarizing a section of a paper in that course, it would actually matter for their future, I still feel like there should be some work around. Quickest way for me to lose interest in a class is for it to not contribute to my career. I have so much going on outside of school that I don't like wasting time on classes that don't matter. And I know from talking with peers that I am not alone in that sentiment.
On the flipside of that, if someone is plagiarizing something and getting paid for it, like writing book reviews or articles for amount per word, that's a bit different. That is obviously something you are getting monetary gain from and using someone else's words could be keeping them from making that same money. I don't believe something is ethically wrong unless it hurts someone else. In this case there is the possibility you would be taking money out of someone else's pocket, so in my opinion that would be unethical. In the case of a section of a paper in a 1000 level course, I don't think it would actually hurt anyone by just submitting the paper for a grade. It turns into an ethical issue when you agree to let it be published or showcased or something. Until then I don't find it ethically wrong.
Is ghost writing plagiarism?
I don't believe so since the ghost writer isn't copying anyone else's work, and they also go into it knowing someone else's name will be attached to it. To me that's like saying I gave you a gift and then got mad because you stole it.
Plagiarism is taking someone else's work and trying to pass it off as your own.
Is plagiarism illegal in the US?
No it is not illegal, but it is considered dishonorable and normally against ethics codes in schools and workplaces. Though legal action can be taken if it violates the original author's copyright, trademark, or patent, or if there is a breech of contract where only original works are allowed.
How might plagiarism affect a typical professor?
If a professor plagiarizes then they can lose their job, there may be a possibility to be blacklisted for future employers, or some other form of disciplinary action from their school.
How might plagiarism affect a typical student?
A student can lose credit for the assignment, lose scholarships, or depending on the severity, even be kicked out of school.
Is that ethical?
In my opinion its a bit of a grey line for things to be slipping toward not caring about plagiarism. On one hand I don't think it should really matter if you use someone else's words in things that aren't going to be long term. Like if a student is majoring in an engineering or technology degree, but has to take an art analysis course that is a general requirement for a degree. Very few of those students would use any information they obtain in that class in their future careers.
While I understand you can't separate the students who, plagiarizing a section of a paper in that course, it would actually matter for their future, I still feel like there should be some work around. Quickest way for me to lose interest in a class is for it to not contribute to my career. I have so much going on outside of school that I don't like wasting time on classes that don't matter. And I know from talking with peers that I am not alone in that sentiment.
On the flipside of that, if someone is plagiarizing something and getting paid for it, like writing book reviews or articles for amount per word, that's a bit different. That is obviously something you are getting monetary gain from and using someone else's words could be keeping them from making that same money. I don't believe something is ethically wrong unless it hurts someone else. In this case there is the possibility you would be taking money out of someone else's pocket, so in my opinion that would be unethical. In the case of a section of a paper in a 1000 level course, I don't think it would actually hurt anyone by just submitting the paper for a grade. It turns into an ethical issue when you agree to let it be published or showcased or something. Until then I don't find it ethically wrong.
Is ghost writing plagiarism?
I don't believe so since the ghost writer isn't copying anyone else's work, and they also go into it knowing someone else's name will be attached to it. To me that's like saying I gave you a gift and then got mad because you stole it.
Encourage IP creation by giving the creators rights to their IP.
Encourage society to benefit from IP by restricting creator rights.
Why is this a tradeoff?
Because to encourage people to create IP we need to ensure them that they have the rights to it and that nobody can steal it without a fight. But on the other hand there is restrictions in place that cause issues so that society can enjoy IP easier. A case making news lately is Cartoon Network and HBO Max. HBO Max paid for the exclusive rights to several of Cartoon Network's shows, including some shows that are still being created. And because of the Discovery Plus merger, a lot of the shows were scrubbed and pulled off of HBO Max. This has cause legal turmoil because some of the creator's of the show, animators, writers, voice actors, etc. can no longer see their work or even so much as use it on a resume to find more jobs. A few of the shows have been scrubbed to the point that Cartoon Network has to basically act as if they never existed for fear of a lawsuit. I think protections are good for actual creator's, but for big companies who buy those rights we have to take it with a grain of salt.
How would I encourage IP with the first copyright laws?
I honestly don't know. Its hard to say what can be done about copyright laws that would encourage IP creation but still prevent something like the HBO Max debacle (except for the appropriate time period).
Overall, the best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite sources, quote to show you are using that specific part from someone else, and if you need to change the phrasing a bit make sure you use the appropriate syntax to show that it is still a quote and note your own work.
Because to encourage people to create IP we need to ensure them that they have the rights to it and that nobody can steal it without a fight. But on the other hand there is restrictions in place that cause issues so that society can enjoy IP easier. A case making news lately is Cartoon Network and HBO Max. HBO Max paid for the exclusive rights to several of Cartoon Network's shows, including some shows that are still being created. And because of the Discovery Plus merger, a lot of the shows were scrubbed and pulled off of HBO Max. This has cause legal turmoil because some of the creator's of the show, animators, writers, voice actors, etc. can no longer see their work or even so much as use it on a resume to find more jobs. A few of the shows have been scrubbed to the point that Cartoon Network has to basically act as if they never existed for fear of a lawsuit. I think protections are good for actual creator's, but for big companies who buy those rights we have to take it with a grain of salt.
How would I encourage IP with the first copyright laws?
I honestly don't know. Its hard to say what can be done about copyright laws that would encourage IP creation but still prevent something like the HBO Max debacle (except for the appropriate time period).
Overall, the best way to avoid plagiarism is to cite sources, quote to show you are using that specific part from someone else, and if you need to change the phrasing a bit make sure you use the appropriate syntax to show that it is still a quote and note your own work.