PLAGIARISM IN PAKISTAN

A STUDY OF THE CURRENT TRENDS in intellectual theft and copyright infringements in the interrelated, Creative Disciplines of Arts, Fashion, Advertising and Journalism and the Communications/Broadcast Media including Print & Electronic that make these disciplines accessible to the public at large. [Part of the Open Source Research Project, ‘Breaches of Ethical Practice in Pakistan’ coordinated by Initiative for Exploration of Social Issues (IESI) ©]

INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

The Aims and Objectives

In the absence of an exhaustive study conducted previously on the subject, “Plagiarism - A Study of the Current Trends" is an enterprise of extreme proportions. The aims and objectives of this ambitious project are to map out the current trends in intellectual theft and copyright infringement prevalent in the interrelated, creative disciplines of Arts (including Visual, Performing & Fine Arts), Fashion (including Fashion Designing), Advertising, Journalism, and the Communications/Broadcast Media (including Print & Electronic) in Pakistan. It is a fact that horizons of these fields and instances of plagiarism permeating them are growing exponentially and in direct proportion to the information technologies being introduced into the Pakistani society. The study aspires to gain insight into the nature and extent of this phenomenon, insight that could serve as platform for a more extensive study of the subject undertaken in the future.

Brief History

Initiated and coordinated by IESI as part of its larger research project - ‘Breaches of Ethical Practice in Pakistan’ – the study was embarked upon in March, 2004, the FIRST STAGE of which was marked by the setting of parameters for the study, followed by gathering of primary information from second and third party sources. In the current, SECOND STAGE, verification of the compilation is being carried out, and the databank of compiled information being further expanded through information extracted from first hand sources. In that context, this temporary, low-end site has been put up to act as conduit for the exchange of information and ideas regarding the subject of plagiarism in the creative fields.

Academic Liability

Owing to the magnitude of this endeavor and absence of a precedence set by a body of research conducted on the subject in the past, the open source project at this point should be regarded no more than a WORK IN PROGRESS, and should be considered thus until pronounced officially complete by mutual agreement between active research contributors in consultation with prominent professionals in the relevant fields. Nothing said about any aspect of the subject, on the website, or in communiqués is therefore to be taken as the final word unless mentioned otherwise.

This is a study underscored by purely academic, non-commercial interests. For purposes of administration, all rights to entailments of this project are at this time owned in whole by IESI ©. Once complete, contents of this study project will be released in the public domain in print form and made freely accessible for HTML linking on the web from a website currently under construction. All rights to the information gathered in the study will at that time be relinquished to a non-commercial organisation/individual or in the public interest. Till that time however, no part of this study may be used in ANY form, for ANY purpose, by ANY individual or organisation for ANY reason whatsoever. Violation of this article will be dealt with strictly through appropriate legal action through an appointed solicitor.

Please use the guestbook to comment or opine about the subject of plagiarism and breach of various other ethical practices in the creative fields in Pakistan. Comments made in the guest book will not form part of the research material.