Patent Law

More on plagiarizing Pittsburgh school superintendent

By Lawrence B. Ebert, Esq.

Suspended West Jefferson Hills School Superintendent Terry Kinavey testified Wednesday that she had permission to use welcome letters and a brochure she has been accused of plagiarizing.

"Permission" is a defense to a legal charge of copyright infringement but it is NOT a defense to a charge of plagiarism [copying without attribution.] In other words, figuratively, Kinavey is bringing a knife to a gunfight.

The accusation here is plagiarism:

Kinavey has been accused of plagiarizing welcome letters that were sent out to parents, teachers and faculty and placing her name on the documents, without giving the proper citation to the source.

As to her reasoning, the article notes:

I wasn't shirking my responsibility as superintendent. I was trying to spend more time in the classroom," Kinavey said.

She said sharing among educators is common practice.

Next stop: Harvard Law School?

See earlier IPBiz post:

PA school superintendent accused of plagiarism

Full post as published by IPBiz on May 13, 2010 (boomark / email).