Website continues to sell theses despite complaints

Global Times 05 May 2017

The authors who accused a website of selling their dissertations against their consent cannot demand the removal of the theses from the platform as, according to intellectual property experts, the sale does not constitute copyright infringement, writes Deng Xiaoci for Global Times.

According to a report from news portal thepaper.cn, there are some 4,000 items tagged as ‘doctoral dissertations’ for sale on kongfz.com, a second-hand book platform, which come from dozens of elite Chinese universities including Tsinghua University, Peking University and Fudan University. The dissertations are priced from CNY5 to CNY1,000 (US$0.73 to US$145) by different sellers on the website.

When the author hands in the dissertation to university faculties for reviews, or the graduate donates the copies to the libraries or gifts these copies to friends, the writers have already executed their publication rights, Yao Huanqing, a professor from the Law School of the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times. If the sellers on the kongfz.com got these copies from the above-mentioned sources, then the copies cannot be considered as pirated, said Yao.
Full report on the Global Times site

Receive UWN's free weekly e-newsletters

Sponsored Article

Getting to net zero, one community at a time

University of Victoria staff

Accelerating Community Energy Transformation is a University of Victoria-led collaborative initiative that brings together over 40 partners, including Indigenous knowledge keepers and community leaders, to create innovative place-based solutions for energy system transformation.

Promoted by the University of Victoria.

Sponsored Article

Africa pays a premium for global climate change sluggishness

Stellenbosch University staff

Africa needs to stop paying the price for the rest of the world’s recalcitrance to act fast enough in response to the irrefutable conclusions that climate change is real and that the impact of global warming could be devasting, says Professor Guy Midgley, interim director of the School for Climate Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Promoted by Stellenbosch University.

Sponsored Article

Innovations to ensure energy savings in a hot, arid climate

UAE University staff

Researchers from the United Arab Emirates University have shown that the potential benefits of building energy savings and a cooler indoor environment, as well as improved cooling effect on air temperature at pedestrian level, strongly indicate that a cool roof with high solar reflectance and albedo is a promising strategy for buildings in regions with hot, arid climates.

Promoted by United Arab Emirates University.

Sponsored Article

A new global university ranking with an ethical mission

Aftab Dean

A new university ranking system aims to serve as a catalyst for positive transformation in higher education, ensuring that universities create an environment grounded in integrity and sustainability that inspires and supports students and staff in the development of novel solutions to global challenges.

Promoted by Globethics.net.

Sponsored Article

SDG progress report launches university into new territory

University of Pretoria staff

In the publication of its first progress report on its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals, the University of Pretoria is navigating new territory at the same time as it is acknowledging its clear stewardship role in protecting the environment and biodiversity.

Promoted by the University of Pretoria.