For would-be plagiarists, now is both the best and worst of times. Thanks to Google and other search tools, never has it been easier to appropriate someone else’s thoughts or words. But the Internet taketh away, too—offering up scads of sleuthing software that promise the ability to sniff out cheats.
Which is what makes this post about a retraction in Computer Law & Security Review all the more delicious. As they say in the law, res ipsa loquitur:
RETRACTED: Google’s use of Rescuecom’s trademark as an advertising keyword and the U.S. Federal Trademarks Act
Computer Law & Security Review, Volume 26, Issue 1, January 2010, Pages 77-89
Bashar H. Malkawi
Abstract
This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief, the Editor-in-Chief of Midwest Law Journal (where the article is due to be published) and Michaud-Kinney Group LLP representing Professor Gedge. Please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).
Reason: The author has plagiarized the entire paper from an unpublished work by Professor Judy Gedge, Assistant Professor of Business Law, School of Business, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut.
As such Professor Malkawi’s article represents a severe abuse of the scientific publishing system. Readers are advised not to cite to this article published under the name of Professor Malkawi.
The scientific community takes a very strong view on this matter and we apologize to Professor Gedge, the author of the original article.
A little background: Rescuecom had sued Google for alleged trademark violations but dropped the case earlier this year after it found itself facing a similar suit from Best Buy, according to CNET.
Malkawi teaches commercial law at the Hashemite University in Jordan.
Read more Best of Retractions.