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The first concern that ThinkQuest New York City needs to make known to all teams
is that which we know will block your progress in entrance
into the ThinkQuest New York City Library as a Quality Site. We are letting you know up
front that these are things you need to know and abide by.
"What could that possibly be?", you might be wondering.
"We've got a good topic, we're working on a really good design,
we're collaborating..."
These concerns are: PLAGIARISM and INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
PLAGIARISM
Basically, plagiarism is using other's work as if it was yours.
You may not realize it, but certain practices lead others to conclude
that other's works are your own.Here are some of these practices:
- Using someone's exact words and not putting quotation marks
around them, which means the reader has no way of understanding
this is not the work of the site author.
- Using someone's work and not attributing the source.
- Paraphrasing so closely (same order of sentences, same order of
paragraphs, same order of sections ), with merely a word substituted
here and there. This indicates that the work is really still someone
else's. The intellectual work of re-thinking the
meaning wasn't done. This is true even if the source is given.
- Cut 'N Paste: Using parts of several people's work, which some
think is original - Not!The sum of sentences from other
authors doesn't make the combination original,
- It is possible to plagiarize someone's graphic work: taking an image
and changing a small part. This also is copyright violation, in which an
image cannot be "derived" . Look at Copyright Website:
< http://www.benedict.com > for examples of this.
If you are depending a lot on books and Internet material, Northwestern
University's work is a "Must Read". In it, examples of well -
paraphrased work and explanations of why they are OK are included
< http://www.northwestern.edu/uacc/plagiar.html >.
Be really sure about what makes a work plagiarism: you entry will
be disqualified if it is plagiarized.
Note to coaches: please be aware that this year, we are expecting that
you will examine the students' work and sign that you have done so in the
entry form that comes with uploading the entries.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Intellectual property violations are legal concerns and include
copyright infringement or trademark violation.
ThinkQuest New York City takes the issue of intellectual property very seriously,
and makes it clear in the ThinkQuest New York City Rules that infringement is not
tolerated.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY covers
"the properties generated by thought processes, creativity, and
organizational capabilities of individuals and legal entities
which are fixed in a tangible form" (Caseiro,2000, p.18).
There are four kinds of intellectual property. We are most concerned
with Copyrights and Trademarks in entries.
COPYRIGHT: First, think simply: If you did not write it,
draw it, or produce the .gif or applet, etc....then you need to
pay close attention to what is OK legally. Copyright means "Original works of
authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression "(Caseiro,2000, p.20)
"Copyright" means that the author or artist or software developer
claims protection for the expression of original
work they did. They have the right to have their work used
for pay or with permission, and their work cannot be used
without permission. You can see this symbol: © on a work
protected with a copyright.
One Frequently Asked Question is worth answering for all of you:
"If something I see says "For Educational Use" or "For Personal Use",
can I use it on my site?"
The answer is NO. When you publish on the web, you publish for the whole
world. "Educational use" means IN A CLASSROOM. "Personal Use" means for
your private use.These are tough ideas to think about. If you have any questions about
specifics, use the HELP DESK, but more importantly,
ASK YOUR COACH.
Reference:
Caseiro, Chris. Basics of Intellectual Property. GPSOLO, American Bar Association, 17, 3, 18-23
(April/May).
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