Plagiarism Past, Present, and Future

Many writers and musicians believe they can see their own efforts in the works of others, even when no one else can – a phenomenon dubbed projective plagiarism. This psychological illusion is driven by egocentrism and a belief in one’s own uniqueness. At the other extreme are cases in which individuals have plagiarized from the works of others without damage to their reputations. In some instances, this happens because they are held in such high esteem that charges of plagiarism don’t really stick – a phenomenon dubbed Teflon plagiarism. There is also unrepentant plagiarism – writers and musicians who have seemingly appropriated the works of others across their entire careers without apology. But what drives someone to plagiarize? The various excuses offered up by plagiarists are examined, as is the question of whether appropriation correlates with particular personality characteristics. And is plagiarism even deserving of its highly negative reputation? The question of whether the productions of chatbots constitute plagiarism or ghostwriting is considered – even as litigation swirls around the possibility of infringement occurring during the training of chatbots.