Copyright in the networked world: plagiarism and its ambiguities

Abstract

Purpose

Libraries and scholars face more frequent problems with and decisions about plagiarism than in the past. This article aims to look at complex cases where plagiarism may have occurred.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is anthropological and looks at specific cases, in which the situations are real but the actors have been fictionalised to protect identities.

Findings

Plagiarism tools, while invaluable for discovering potential problems, can also expose cases where judgments depend on complex circumstances.

Originality/value

The goal is to show areas where ambiguity in plagiarism cases exists.

Citation

Seadle, M. (2008), "Copyright in the networked world: plagiarism and its ambiguities", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 691-695. https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830810921049