{"id":4166,"date":"2023-03-16T16:19:02","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T15:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/?p=4166"},"modified":"2026-08-12T14:32:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T12:32:44","slug":"plagiarism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/plagiarism\/","title":{"rendered":"Plagiarism"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Definition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Centre National de Ressources Textuelles et Lexicales<\/a> provides a fairly comprehensive definition of plagiarism: \u2018To borrow elements or fragments from an original work \u2013 and, by extension, from its author \u2013 and to wrongfully claim authorship of them by reproducing them, with varying degrees of accuracy, in a work that is presented as one\u2019s own.\u2019Synonyms: to copy, to plunder, to pirate<\/em>“<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plagiarism is therefore a theft, of text, of ideas… accompanied by an infringement. It concerns any intellectual work: texts, of course, but also images, works of art, software, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different types of plagiarism<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When you think about plagiarism, you immediately imagine the reproduction of a text without citing the references. However, there are many more variations on plagiarism than you might think. The Universit\u00e9 de Lyon gives some examples in its bestiary<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Universit\u00e9 de Lyon, CC-BY-NC-SA<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Borrowing without citing the original work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is the type of plagiarism that people usually think of first. Someone borrows a text or a fragment of text from an author and fails to cite the original work. The reproduction of texts can take various forms: verbatim copying, the use of extracts, paraphrasing, the use of synonyms, and so on. In this regard, The Plagiarism Spectrum<\/a> <\/a>presents examples of 10 types of plagiarism by comparing plagiarised texts with the original works, which helps to highlight the diversity of the problem and the difficulty of avoiding and recognising it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Borrowing may concern the text itself but also the ideas. Thus, taking ideas without attributing them to their creator is plagiarism, as well as taking the structure of a work. This is why the pure and simple paraphrase of a work is considered an infringement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, plagiarism does not stop at language. Translating a text without quoting the original work is also plagiarism. In case of translation, the references of the original text and the name of the translator should be indicated. In addition, a publisher has rights to the published text. In the case of a translation project, you should not forget to ask for his agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aggregation of cited texts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Another form of plagiarism, more often ignored, is the aggregation of cited texts without any personal additions, the whole being of course signed by the plagiarist as an original text.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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“Puzzle<\/a>” by ellajphillips<\/a>, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Self-plagiarism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Presenting the same text several times in different courses, conferences, journals, etc. is considered plagiarism, even if it is not, in this case, theft from others. It is therefore more a question of research ethics: self-plagiarism denies the reader access to the source text and presents reused data as original. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

False and misquoted quotes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another form of plagiarism is the use of false or misleading quotes. Once again, the question of research ethics arises: this is more a question of falsifying data than of counterfeiting. The author of the text supports his thinking with evidence that does not exist or is twisted to serve his own ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consequences<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Intellectual<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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“Fraud Key<\/a>” by Got Credit, CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Plagiarism is counterfeiting, even fraud. In the case of scientific publishing, if plagiarism is discovered in a published article, the journal has the possibility to retract an article. This withdrawal is accompanied by a withdrawal notice explaining the reasons for the journal’s decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plagiarism thus calls into question the ethics of research and discredits not only the plagiarist, but also the entire team that participated in the development of the offending research.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Furthermore, as Yaroslav Pigenet points out in the article Fraude : mais que fait la recherche ?<\/a><\/em> : \u00ab Du point de vue strictement scientifique, la pire cons\u00e9quence de la fraude est l\u2019incertitude et le doute qu\u2019elle jette sur le corpus des connaissances acquises par la recherche. Un doute dont les r\u00e9percussions ne sont pas seulement \u00e9pist\u00e9mologiques, mais affectent aussi la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 dans son ensemble \u00bb<\/a>. Thus, plagiarism and fraud are seen as serious dangers in a society where science is increasingly questioned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economical<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Plagiarism also has economic consequences. Since it is becoming easier and easier to copy texts with a click of the mouse, to edit images or videos with a simple free application on one’s phone… institutions are obliged to equip themselves with expensive anti-plagiarism software. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, in cases of suspected plagiarism, universities incur lawyers’ fees, organise commissions, which represent a significant cost in time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sanctions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In case of proven infringement, the plagiarist risks academic and penal sanctions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Academic sanctions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Universities have adopted anti-plagiarism guidelines. These define plagiarism and the sanctions applied. These can range from a reprimand to permanent exclusion depending on the seriousness of the fraud. The institution may also decide to invalidate the award of a degree. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Code de l’\u00c9ducation<\/a>, notably in articles R811-10 to R811-42, provides a framework for disciplinary procedures in public higher education institutions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Criminal sanctions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Plagiarism is punishable as an infringement under the Code de la propri\u00e9t\u00e9 intellectuelle<\/a><\/a>. Articles L335-2 and L335-3 of the latter state that, in France, counterfeiting of works published in France or abroad is punishable by three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 300,000 euros. <\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Test your knowledge!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Quebec University Network offers a quiz to test your knowledge of plagiarism: http:\/\/ptc.uquebec.ca\/pdci\/eviter-le-plagiat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the same page, the site proposes 3 scenarios: a student must write an article on such and such a subject, he has found such and such a source, he has written this… is it plagiarism? If so, what should they do to avoid plagiarism? etc… <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The University of Angers also offers a quiz: https:\/\/www.univ-angers.fr\/fr\/vous-etes\/etudiant-e\/examens\/plagiat\/quizz.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Directory of anti-plagiarism tools:https:\/\/cursus.edu\/fr\/15876\/repertoire-des-outils-anti-plagiat-prevention-et-detection<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Plagiarism Spectrum: Instructor Insights into the 10 Types of Plagiarism <\/em>: https:\/\/www.ed.ac.uk\/files\/atoms\/files\/10-types-of-plagiarism.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case study on the Responsable<\/em> website of the University of Geneva: https:\/\/www.responsable-unige.ch\/top\/les-cas-ecole\/duplicate-of-merci-le-web.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The website of IRAFPA, Institute for Research and Action on Academic Fraud and Plagiarism, and in particular the Quick cases<\/em> : https:\/\/irafpa.org\/methodes\/notre-methode-des-cas\/mini-cas-contextuels\/#<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study of the risks involved in plagiarism: https:\/\/www.compilatio.net\/blog\/plagiat-etudes-risques<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brigitte Simonnot. Le plagiat universitaire,seulement une question d\u2019\u00e9thique ?<\/em> https:\/\/journals.openedition.org\/questionsdecommunication\/9304<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

COMETS. R\u00e9flexion \u00e9thique sur le plagiat dans la recherche scientifique<\/em> : https:\/\/comite-ethique.cnrs.fr\/avis-du-comets-reflexion-ethique-sur-le-plagiat-dans-la-recherche-scientifique\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you think about plagiarism, you immediately imagine the reproduction of a text without citing the references. However, there are many more variations on plagiarism than you might think. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3488,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_seopress_robots_follow":"","_seopress_robots_imageindex":"","_seopress_robots_snippet":"","_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_robots_breadcrumbs":"","_seopress_robots_freeze_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_custom_modified_date":"","_seopress_robots_canonical":"","_seopress_social_fb_title":"","_seopress_social_fb_desc":"","_seopress_social_fb_img":"","_seopress_social_fb_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_fb_img_height":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_title":"","_seopress_social_twitter_desc":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img":"","_seopress_social_twitter_img_attachment_id":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_width":0,"_seopress_social_twitter_img_height":0,"_seopress_redirections_value":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled":"","_seopress_redirections_enabled_regex":"","_seopress_redirections_logged_status":"both","_seopress_redirections_param":"","_seopress_redirections_type":301,"_seopress_analysis_target_kw":"","_seopress_news_disabled":"","_seopress_video_disabled":"","_seopress_video":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas_manual":[],"_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable_all":"","_seopress_pro_rich_snippets_disable":[],"_seopress_pro_schemas":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,84],"tags":[100,124],"class_list":["post-4166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-ethics-and-research","category-toolbox","tag-ethics","tag-intellectual-property"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4166"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6981,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4166\/revisions\/6981"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.centre-mersenne.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}