Judicial Approaches in Plagiarism Litigation: Lessons for Universities in East Africa
Journal of Education, Humanities & Science (JEHS),
Vol. 11 No. 2 (2022)
Abstract
The escalation of plagiarism in universities and subsequent litigations by postgraduate
students seeking to challenge universities’ decisions through courts of law worldwide are
noticeably increasing. This article reviews trends in plagiarism-related litigations involving
postgraduate students in universities in East Africa. The focus is on select universities in
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The objective is to determine the approaches that courts of
law in the region, and those in other jurisdictions, have adopted in developing legal
principles while determining plagiarism-related litigations. The recommendations
advanced seek to assist courts in the region to determine cases in accordance with
emerging and well-defined legal principles on plagiarism amplified in numerous
precedents. The exposition can also inform university authorities to discharge their
respective roles more effectively and diligently while dealing with plagiarism-related
disciplinary cases. Potential student litigants can also be in a better position to make
logical and informed choices with confidence on decisions arrived at by universities.
Keywords
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- Among, A. Anita v A.G of Uganda et al [2013] EACJ 3 (29 November 2013). Retrieved from
- https://africanlii.org/ea/judgment/east-african-court-justice/2013/3-0.
- Ali, M. (2021, August 31). HC dismisses plagiarism case against college principal. The Times of India.
- Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/hc-dismisses-plagiarism-case-
- against-college-principal/articleshow/85780705.cms?frmapp=yes&from=mdr.
- Anne Nang’unda Kukali v Mary Ogola and the University of Nairobi, (2010). [2010] eKLR. Retrieved
- from http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/74504.
- Anney, V. N. & Mosha, M. A. (2015). Student’s plagiarisms in higher learning institutions in the era
- of improved Internet access: Case study of developing countries. Journal of Education and
- Practice, 6 (13), 203-216.
- AV v IParadigms LLC (n.d.). United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 544 F. Supp. 2d
- , 480 https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/published/081424.p.pdf:.
- Judicial Approaches in Plagiarism Litigation: Lessons for Universities in E. Africa
- JHSS, Volume 11 Number 2, 2022
- Bensaon Barigye v Dr. John Ddumba Ssentamu and Makerere University Council (2003). Retrieved
- from New Vision Newspaper 5 February 2003 https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1274226/judge-
- throws-plagiarism.
- BBC News (2013, February 9). German minister Annette Schavan quits over plagiarism. Retrieved
- from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21395102.
- Clarke, O., Chan, W. Y. D., Bukuru, S., Logan, J. & Wang, R. (2022). Assessing knowledge of and
- attitudes towards plagiarism and ability to recognize plagiaristic writing among university
- students in Rwanda. High Educ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00830-y.
- Commission for Kenya University Education (2014). Universities standards and guidelines, June 2014
- p. 52. Retrieved from https://www.daystar.ac.ke/downloads/PhD_Downloads/ universities%
- standards%20and%20guidelines%20june%202014.pdf.
- Dr. Jean-Bosco Ngendahimana v the University of Dar es Salaam. (2017). Civil Appeal No. 304 of
- , Court of Appeal of Tanzania at Dar es Salaam [Unreported]. Retrieved from
- https://tanzlii.org/tz/judgment/court-appeal-tanzania/2021/3528.
- East African Community (2007). Treaty establishing the East African Community. Retrieved from
- https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaty-
- files/2487/download.
- European Network for Academic Integrity (2021). European Union on academic integrity and
- plagiarism. Retrieved from https://academicintegrity.eu/ conference/proceedings/ 2021/book_
- of_abstracts2021.pdf.
- Ex-parte Wellington Kihato Wamburu. (Miscellaneous Application No. 466 of 2017). Retrieved from
- http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/148378.
- Faulkner v. Univ. of Tennessee, (1994) WL 642765 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1994) cited in Standler, R. B
- (2012). Plagiarism in colleges in USA: Legal aspects of plagiarism, academic policy. Retrieved
- from http://www.rbs2.com/plag.pdf.
- Flanagan v University College Dublin (1988) IR 724, [20]. Retrieved from https://ie.vlex.com/
- vid/flanagan-v-university-college-793568889.
- Friesen, J. (2022 May 11). University of Toronto sues tutoring service for copyright infringement.
- The Globe and Mail News Paper. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-
- university-of-toronto-sues-tutoring-service-for-copyright-infringement/Friesent.
- Green, S. P. (2002). Plagiarism, norms, and the limits of theft law: Some observations on the use of
- criminal sanctions in enforcing intellectual property rights. Hastings Law Journal, 54 (1), 167-242.
- Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228244566_ Plagiarism_ Norms_
- and_the_Limits_of_Theft_Law_Some_Observations_on_the_Use_of_Criminal_Sanctions_in_E
- nforcing_Intellectual_Property_Rights.
- Hardy, A. & James, C. (2017). Plagiarism v copyright infringement of the society of authors. The
- Authors Journal, Winter 2017. Retrieved from https://societyofauthors.org/getmedia/872311fe-
- f54f-4dde-9599-a407a9c1c13a/Plagiarism-and-copyright-infringement.aspx.
- Inter University Council for East Africa (2015). Harmonization of higher education in East Africa. Retrieved
- from http://repository.eac.int/bitstream/handle/ 11671/2047/ Harmonization% 20of% 20Higher% 20
- Education%20in%20East%20Africa%20Status%20Update.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
- James, A. (2022, 12 May). Study reveals deep concerns over cheating, learning quality. University
- World News Africa Edition. Retrieved from https://www.universityworldnews.com/ post. php?
- story=2022050206370464.
References
Among, A. Anita v A.G of Uganda et al [2013] EACJ 3 (29 November 2013). Retrieved from
https://africanlii.org/ea/judgment/east-african-court-justice/2013/3-0.
Ali, M. (2021, August 31). HC dismisses plagiarism case against college principal. The Times of India.
Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/hc-dismisses-plagiarism-case-
against-college-principal/articleshow/85780705.cms?frmapp=yes&from=mdr.
Anne Nang’unda Kukali v Mary Ogola and the University of Nairobi, (2010). [2010] eKLR. Retrieved
from http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/74504.
Anney, V. N. & Mosha, M. A. (2015). Student’s plagiarisms in higher learning institutions in the era
of improved Internet access: Case study of developing countries. Journal of Education and
Practice, 6 (13), 203-216.
AV v IParadigms LLC (n.d.). United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 544 F. Supp. 2d
, 480 https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/published/081424.p.pdf:.
Judicial Approaches in Plagiarism Litigation: Lessons for Universities in E. Africa
JHSS, Volume 11 Number 2, 2022
Bensaon Barigye v Dr. John Ddumba Ssentamu and Makerere University Council (2003). Retrieved
from New Vision Newspaper 5 February 2003 https://www.newvision.co.ug/news/1274226/judge-
throws-plagiarism.
BBC News (2013, February 9). German minister Annette Schavan quits over plagiarism. Retrieved
from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-21395102.
Clarke, O., Chan, W. Y. D., Bukuru, S., Logan, J. & Wang, R. (2022). Assessing knowledge of and
attitudes towards plagiarism and ability to recognize plagiaristic writing among university
students in Rwanda. High Educ. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00830-y.
Commission for Kenya University Education (2014). Universities standards and guidelines, June 2014
p. 52. Retrieved from https://www.daystar.ac.ke/downloads/PhD_Downloads/ universities%
standards%20and%20guidelines%20june%202014.pdf.
Dr. Jean-Bosco Ngendahimana v the University of Dar es Salaam. (2017). Civil Appeal No. 304 of
, Court of Appeal of Tanzania at Dar es Salaam [Unreported]. Retrieved from
https://tanzlii.org/tz/judgment/court-appeal-tanzania/2021/3528.
East African Community (2007). Treaty establishing the East African Community. Retrieved from
https://investmentpolicy.unctad.org/international-investment-agreements/treaty-
files/2487/download.
European Network for Academic Integrity (2021). European Union on academic integrity and
plagiarism. Retrieved from https://academicintegrity.eu/ conference/proceedings/ 2021/book_
of_abstracts2021.pdf.
Ex-parte Wellington Kihato Wamburu. (Miscellaneous Application No. 466 of 2017). Retrieved from
http://kenyalaw.org/caselaw/cases/view/148378.
Faulkner v. Univ. of Tennessee, (1994) WL 642765 (Tenn.Ct.App. 1994) cited in Standler, R. B
(2012). Plagiarism in colleges in USA: Legal aspects of plagiarism, academic policy. Retrieved
from http://www.rbs2.com/plag.pdf.
Flanagan v University College Dublin (1988) IR 724, [20]. Retrieved from https://ie.vlex.com/
vid/flanagan-v-university-college-793568889.
Friesen, J. (2022 May 11). University of Toronto sues tutoring service for copyright infringement.
The Globe and Mail News Paper. Retrieved from https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-
university-of-toronto-sues-tutoring-service-for-copyright-infringement/Friesent.
Green, S. P. (2002). Plagiarism, norms, and the limits of theft law: Some observations on the use of
criminal sanctions in enforcing intellectual property rights. Hastings Law Journal, 54 (1), 167-242.
Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228244566_ Plagiarism_ Norms_
and_the_Limits_of_Theft_Law_Some_Observations_on_the_Use_of_Criminal_Sanctions_in_E
nforcing_Intellectual_Property_Rights.
Hardy, A. & James, C. (2017). Plagiarism v copyright infringement of the society of authors. The
Authors Journal, Winter 2017. Retrieved from https://societyofauthors.org/getmedia/872311fe-
f54f-4dde-9599-a407a9c1c13a/Plagiarism-and-copyright-infringement.aspx.
Inter University Council for East Africa (2015). Harmonization of higher education in East Africa. Retrieved
from http://repository.eac.int/bitstream/handle/ 11671/2047/ Harmonization% 20of% 20Higher% 20
Education%20in%20East%20Africa%20Status%20Update.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
James, A. (2022, 12 May). Study reveals deep concerns over cheating, learning quality. University
World News Africa Edition. Retrieved from https://www.universityworldnews.com/ post. php?
story=2022050206370464.