Do plagiarism Web sites violate laws?
By Sarah Sullivan, contributing writer
Posted on October 2, 2006

On campuses around the country, students have begun to question the Web site that claims to help both students and instructors.
 
Turnitin.com compares and checks student work against a database of more than 22 million sources. Among these sources are papers previously submitted to Turnitin, online sources and articles, and other commercial Web sites. Instructors use this Web site to catch students who might potentially be plagiarizing.

Although the site is said to be for students, and has a Web page that reads, “Turnitin promotes fairness and integrity,” it can only be used if a teacher makes it available. The instructor must give students the Turnitin class ID and the Turnitin class enrollment password before students can have any access to the site.

As of now, JMU does not subscribe to the site, though individual professors are capable of using the Turnitin.com service.

One debate about the Web site concerns students’ privacy rights. Students question whether or not teachers have the right to submit their work to this Web site, and they wonder if their work is protected by copyright laws. Students ask: When a student enrolls in a class and a professor distributes a syllabus that in no way mentions the use of a source like Turnitin, is it implied that the professor will use a third party?

Students and professors are torn over the issue.

JMU school of media arts and design professor Dona Gilliam said plagiarism is a huge issue on college campuses and that Turnitin “uses technology to solve a problem that technology has created.” Gilliam does not use the site.

Many students agree. JMU freshman Kyle Connaghan remembers using Turnitin in high school.

“Turnitin makes sure students are honest,” he says. “It is used as a deterrent. If you plagiarize, you will get caught.”

On the other hand, some students dislike the site — like freshman Annie Cantrell.
“Teachers should tell the students before they use the site,” Cantrell said. “Otherwise it is like searching a house without a warrant.”

Most students don’t copyright their research papers and essays, but many feel they have an ownership interest in what they write that they’re unwilling to share with a for-profit company.

According to the Library of Congress Web site, a work is considered copyrighted as soon as that work is created by the author. This means that a student’s work is a student’s work. The Library of Congress also explains that the 1976 Copyright Act gives the owner of copyright exclusive right to do and to authorize others to do many things including “to distribute copies” and “to display the work publicly.”

Turnitin’s copyright and privacy Web page directly addresses student concerns.  One page of the company’s Web site is dedicated to explaining its credibility. It also defends the for-profit organization.

The Web site maintains the legality of its services has been confirmed by law firms throughout the world. However, the Web site does not mention the 1976 Copyright Act.

After 10 years of service, more than 6,000 academic institutions in 90 countries use the Web site, the Washington Post reported. JMU, however, is an exception.

The debate over Turnitin’s imposition on students’ property and intellectual property rights continues to rage.

“Plagiarism is a problem on college campuses,” said sophomore Andy Walsh. “There will always be a debate over this issue, especially if students are fighting to protect their rights.”