Scientific plagiarism in Germany became widely discussed during the Guttenberg plagiarism scandal, which has led to other, mostly doctoral, dissertations being scrutinised. Initially focused on the dissertations of notable persons submitted at German institutions, non-doctoral works in languages other than German submitted at institutions outside Germany have since also been scrutinised.
This scrutiny has found extensive plagiarism in the work of several notable persons, including cabinet members, and in a significant number of casesbut not alltheir academic degree has been rescinded. , the German VroniPlag Wiki has, since it started in 2011, published the plagiarism found in over 200 works; in at least 90 of these cases the academic degree was rescinded. Each year, about 30,000 doctorates are completed in Germany.
However, academic misconduct has been a topic in Germany for centuries, especially at the doctoral level since one of the rights and privileges that come with an academic degree at this level is the title of doctor. In Germany, this title has been regarded since the 16th century "almost equal to a noble title." While the legal privileges of royalty and nobility were abolished in Germany in 1919 following the German revolution and proclamation of the republic at the end of World War I, hereditary titles continue to form part of surnames that continue to be protected by law, the wealth and power of formerly royal and noble families has remained, and German media continues to treat royal and noble persons is if it had never been abolished. Therefore obtaining the title of doctor equates to a significant rise in social status in Germany and thus motivation for doing so, with the achievement itself seemingly less important than the title. When accusations of plagiarism first emerged, Guttenberg volunteered to stop using the title, and when the doctorate was rescinded leading to loss of privilege to use the title, German media focused on the loss of title rather than the academic degree as a recognition of effort and achievement.
Notable cases
Author Profession Dissertation Year of work University Sanction Year of sanctionJorgo Chatzimarkakis Politician 2000 University of Bonn Degree rescinded 2011 Bijan Djir-Sarai Politician 2008 University of Cologne Degree rescinded 2012 Manager 2010 Clausthal University of Technology Degree rescinded 2014 Politician 2009 Technische Universität Berlin Degree surrendered 2013 Florian Graf Politician 2010 University of Potsdam Degree rescinded 2012 Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg Politician 2006 University of Bayreuth Degree rescinded 2011 Lawyer and politician 2004 University of Göttingen Degree rescinded 2010 TV actor 2011 University of Düsseldorf Degree rescinded 2015 Silvana Koch-Mehrin Politician 2000 Heidelberg University Degree rescinded 2011 Politician 2005 University of the Bundeswehr Munich Degree rescinded 2013 Ursula von der Leyen Politician 1991 Hannover Medical School University found plagiarism, but also found it acceptable at that university 2015 Entrepreneur and publisher 1986 University of Bonn Degree rescinded 2012 Historian 1971 University of Erlangen–Nuremberg Degree rescinded 1973 Lawyer and politician 2007 University of Tübingen Degree rescinded 2011 Annette Schavan Politician 1980 University of Düsseldorf Degree rescinded 2013 Artist and teacher 2000 Technische Universität Darmstadt Degree rescindedVerwaltungsgericht Darmstadt, 14. April 2011, Az. 3 K 899/10.DA 2011 Politician 2004 University of Würzburg University found plagiarism but also found it acceptable at that university 2013
See also Scientific misconduct
References