Improper Credit Given for Research Data
Ramos is the head of a chemical company. As a part of a
research and development effort, Ramos offers to provide
funding to the chemical department of a major university for
removing poisonous heavy metals (chromium, copper, lead,
nickel, zinc) from waste streams. In return, the university
agrees to give Ramos's company the exclusive rights to any
technology developed in the field of water treatment or waste
stream management. As a compensation, the university will also
receive a royalty from the company from the profits derived
from the use of the technology.
At the university, a group of professors, led by Polinski,
decide to form a company to exploit the technology obtained
except for water treatment and water waste management.
Meanwhile, at the same time the university is conducting
research in this, Ramos's company is conducting its own
parallel research. Both teams obtain data and performance
figures, and Ramos's company freely shares its results with
those in Polinski's company.
Later, Deponiadis, a professor of civil engineering at the
university, wants to conduct research and publish a paper
relating to sewage treatment technology. He contacts the
professors in the chemistry department, who furnish him with
data from their tests, as well as with data from Ramos's
company. Deponiadis is totally unaware that the results come
from two parties.
Deponiadis is successful in his research, and his article is
published in a major journal. The data obtained by Ramos's
company is displayed prominently in the paper, and makes up a
major portion of the article. The paper credits the members of
the chemistry department, but nowhere mentions the
contributions of Ramos's company, even though their funds
supported both projects. Deponiadis later learns that Ramos's
company was the major contributor to the data in his paper.
Is it plagiarism for
Deponiadis to publish the data without publishing the full
sources? Is it Deponiadis's obligation to give full credit to
Ramos's company? Should Ramos take any action after discovering
the article? Is so, what kind? What additional information
would help you analyze the situation further?
--adapted from NSPE Case 92-7
Current NSPE Code of Ethics
An earlier version may have been used in this case.
Original Case and BER Judgement