Plagiarism - FAQ

If I use someone else’s figure is it ok if I have referenced the source?

2010-11-26T08:39:00+01:00

No. Giving a reference to the source protects you from plagiarism but without permission to re-use the material you are violating copyright.

Can I use material from my Lic in my Ph.D.?

2010-11-26T14:31:00+01:00

This falls under academic regulations and varies from faculty to faculty at LiU. Within the library, we are not directly involved with faculty rules and so things can change without our knowledge, but as up-to-date as our information is (June 2010):

TekFak allows significant amounts (virtually all, if you wish) of your Licentiate to be used in your own Ph.D. as long as you clearly state near the beginning of the Ph.D. that significant parts of the Ph.D. thesis have been taken from the Licentiate. Note that you are not allowed to use text from someone else’s thesis in your own work, even if referenced. The work in your thesis is meant to be expressed in your own words.

MedFak does not allow sections from a Licentiate thesis to be copied into a subsequent Ph.D. thesis.

Can I use a figure from someone else’s publication in an article?

2010-11-26T14:32:00+01:00

Only after you have obtained permission from the copyright holder. Giving a reference to a source without obtaining permission, protects you from plagiarism but is still a violation of copyright. This includes material from the internet. Effectively, if you have not created a piece of work, someone else owns the copyright and their permission must be obtained before you can use it. If you cannot determine who the copyright owner is, or if you cannot contact them, you cannot use the material in your own publication.

Can I re-draw or modify someone else’s figure and use it in my own publication?

2010-11-26T08:36:00+01:00

If you re-draw and significantly change a figure from another source, you can use your version or interpretation of the figure as long as you reference the original (“based on the figure/date… of…”).

A figure/description/… is considered general knowledge in my subject area, can I use it without a reference?

2010-11-26T14:20:00+01:00

If a concept is considered to be general knowledge, then it is ok to use it without giving a reference to a source. If you are re-using a figure that is widely used, use some care, since technically, someone still owns the copyright to the figure. For newer concepts it can be unclear as to what is “general knowledge” and so it is safer to reference the original source. Remember that an underlying concept of science is to acknowledge the previous work of others and just as you would like to be given credit for the work you have done, so would others. Hence the argument “this is a quickly developing field and what was discovered 2 years ago is now common knowledge” may be true, but as an excuse for avoiding giving acknowledgement to those that are due the credit, it is dubious.

Can I use a figure from someone else’s publication in my thesis?

2010-11-26T08:36:00+01:00

Can I submit a chapter of my monograph-style thesis as a journal article?

2010-11-26T08:35:00+01:00

Yes. The publishers feel that a chapter from a thesis will have to be significantly rewritten in order to turn it into an academic journal article and as such it becomes a new publication. One should indicate in the article that it is based on part of a thesis and reference the thesis.

Can I submit my exjobb as a journal article?

2010-11-26T08:35:00+01:00

Yes. The publishers feel that an exjobb will have to be significantly rewritten in order to turn it into an academic journal article and as such it becomes a new publication. One should indicate in the article that the work began as an exjobb and reference it. It can be a good idea to delay the electronic publication of the exjobb until the article has been accepted for publication. In some subject areas the concept of pre-prints (i.e. making working versions of a publication available on the internet prior to formal publication) is not widely accepted.

Can I submit a conference publication as a journal article?

2010-11-26T08:34:00+01:00

Yes, however you must indicate that the work was previously partly published/presented as part of a conference. It is standardly accepted in academia that the normal process involves first presenting work at a conference and then later turning it into a formal publication. Journals/publishers feel that to turn a conference publication into a journal article requires significant re-working and hence the creation of effectively a new publication.

Can I use a figure from one of my own published articles in a new article?

2010-11-26T08:33:00+01:00

Generally you can; the real question, however is whether you need to explicitly obtain permission from the copyright holder (the journal). The answer to the latter cannot be generalized: you must check with the copyright transfer agreement you signed. Some publishers allow authors to use their own figures in a subsequent article without asking permission (although a reference to the source must always be given), others require permission to be requested. If you cannot find the copyright agreement, it is best to contact the publisher. These days it is possible to find the copyright transfer agreement online at the journal’s website, often under “author guidelines”.

Can I use a figure from one of my own published articles in my thesis?

2010-11-26T08:33:00+01:00

Generally you can; the real question, however is whether you need to explicitly obtain permission from the copyright holder (the journal). The answer to the latter cannot be generalized: you must check with the copyright transfer agreement you signed. Some publishers allow authors to use their own figures in a thesis without asking permission (although a reference to the source must always be given), others require permission to be requested. We have never heard of a case where permission has been refused, but the procedure must be followed. If you cannot find the copyright agreement, it is best to contact the publisher. These days it is possible to find the copyright transfer agreement online at the journal’s website, often under “author guidelines”.