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The Most Famous Plagiarism Cases of All Time
Author:
Jordan Blake
May 20, 2025
9 min
The first thing that crosses your mind when you hear the word ‘plagiarism’ is probably high school essays. But that’s not all. Plagiarism has made headlines all over the world and in multiple fields like music, literature, cinema, academia, and many more. The bestselling authors, chart-topping musicians, and even high-profile politicians, some of the most recognized names, have been caught copying work that wasn’t theirs.
These famous plagiarism cases revealed by EssayWriter experts have sparked major backlash, lawsuits, and endless public debate about what counts as originality and where we draw the line. While some claimed it was accidental or a ‘misunderstanding,’ others faced serious consequences.
In this article, we’re diving into the most talked-about plagiarism scandals, what really happened, what the consequences were, and why they still matter. These stories are hard to ignore.
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Famous Cases of Plagiarism in History
Let’s start our plagiarism journey from centuries ago since the phenomenon isn’t modern; it’s been around longer than you might expect. These famous plagiarism cases in history show that the struggle between inspiration and imitation is nothing new, it just looks a little different now.
Fidentinus
One of the earliest known cases involves Fidentinus, a Roman poet from the 1st century CE who blatantly passed off the work of another poet, Martial, as his own. Martial didn’t take it lightly and publicly called him out in his epigrams.
Leonardo da Vinci
Even some of the most celebrated names in history haven’t escaped suspicion. Known for his genius in art and science, Da Vinci was accused of lifting anatomical sketches and theories from earlier sources without credit. Whether you buy it or not, the whispers are still around.
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare borrowed generously from earlier writers, including whole plots, lines, and characters. While some call it inspiration, others argue it toes the line of theft.
Samuel Johnson
The famous English writer and lexicographer was once accused of copying large chunks of other texts in his essays.
James Platt, Jr.
In the 19th century, James Platt, Jr., a respected writer and philologist, was caught plagiarizing entire articles. The discovery damaged his reputation for good.
Rudyard Kipling
Even Rudyard Kipling, author of The Jungle Book, faced allegations of lifting ideas and passages from other authors. He admitted to being influenced by others, but influence isn’t the same as originality.
These historical plagiarism cases show that the struggle between inspiration and imitation is nothing new, it just looks a little different now.
Even a small percentage can be problematic in certain cases. For more clarity on what percentage of plagiarism is allowed, see our in-depth guide.
Famous Academic Plagiarism Cases
Plagiarism can ruin careers in the academic world. Think fake Ph. D.s and stolen research papers. These plagiarism cases in science and education show just how high the stakes can get. Let’s take a look at a few examples that shocked the academic community.
Karl - Theodor zu Guttenberg - A Doctorate Built on Copy-Paste
Karl - Theodor zu Guttenberg was once Germany’s rising political star. Then, in 2011, researchers discovered that large chunks of his doctoral thesis were copied from other sources without credit. The case gained major attention in Germany and beyond, especially since he had earned his degree from one of the country’s top universities. After the scandal broke, the university revoked his PhD, and Guttenberg resigned from his role as Defense Minister. His story remains one of the most public plagiarism cases in research history.
Martin Stone - The Philosophy Professor Who Copied Philosophers
Martin Stone, a respected professor of philosophy, shocked the academic world when it was discovered that he had plagiarized major parts of his published work. What made the case even more surprising was that the copied material wasn’t from obscure sources, it came from well-known academic texts. Once caught, Stone faced multiple investigations, and many of his papers were retracted. This became one of the more talked-about plagiarism cases in science and humanities, especially because it involved such an established figure.
Dr. Raj Persaud - Psychiatry and Plagiarism
British psychiatrist Dr. Raj Persaud was found guilty of plagiarizing sections of academic articles in his book and other published works. In 2008, the UK’s General Medical Council ruled that he had acted dishonestly by failing to properly credit the original authors. While he didn’t lose his license to practice, he was suspended and had to issue multiple public apologies. His case is often brought up in discussions about plagiarism cases in research, especially when it comes to professionals who cross ethical lines.
Viswa Jit Gupta - Fabricating Research on a Massive Scale
This one’s wild. Dr. Viswa Jit Gupta, an Indian paleontologist, published dozens of papers over his career, but many of them were either plagiarized or entirely made up. His fraud came to light in the 1980s and ’90s, shaking the scientific community. Once his misconduct was exposed, many of his works were withdrawn, and his academic reputation crumbled. His case still stands as one of the worst plagiarism cases in science, mainly because of how long it went undetected.
Famous Cases of Plagiarism in Journalism and Writing
Writers are supposed to deal with facts, not borrowed words. But even in journalism and publishing, some big names have been exposed for copying content without credit. These plagiarism court cases didn’t just shake up careers, they raised serious questions about trust and credibility in the media world.
Jayson Blair - The New York Times Scandal
The early 2000s saw Jayson Blair becoming a rising star at The New York Times. But that didn’t last long. Turns out, he had plagiarized and fabricated details in dozens of articles. Some of his work was copied word-for-word from other newspapers, and other pieces included made-up quotes or scenes that never even happened. The fallout was huge not just for Blair, but for the Times itself, which had to issue a public apology. This wasn’t just a career-ending move, it became one of the most talked-about journalism scandals ever.
Jonah Lehrer - Fabricated Bob Dylan Quotes
Jonah Lehrer was once considered a genius science writer. He wrote for The New Yorker and had several bestsellers under his belt. Then it came out that he had not only reused his own work without disclosure but had also made up quotes including ones he attributed to Bob Dylan. Once exposed, Lehrer lost book deals, speaking gigs, and the respect of readers. While his case didn’t go to court, it’s still mentioned alongside major plagiarism court cases because of the damage it caused to his credibility.
Fareed Zakaria - Accused of Lifting Without Credit
In 2012, journalist and CNN host Fareed Zakaria was accused of copying passages from a New Yorker article for his column in Time magazine. He apologized and was briefly suspended. While it wasn’t one of the most intense plagiarism court cases, the situation sparked a wider discussion about how often journalists 'borrow' ideas and where the ethical line gets drawn.
Kaavya Viswanathan - A Novel Full of Copy-Paste
Kaavya Viswanathan was only 19 when her novel How Opal Mehta Got Kissed, Got Wild and Got a Life hit the shelves and quickly got pulled. Readers noticed that entire passages matched sections from books by Megan McCafferty and others. Viswanathan claimed it was unintentional, but her publisher still dropped the book, and the movie deal vanished. Though there wasn’t a formal lawsuit, this case is often grouped with plagiarism court cases because of the major fallout and legal threats from multiple authors.
The Most Famous Cases of Plagiarism in Politics
When it comes to politics, image is everything. That’s why plagiarism in speeches, papers, or academic work can cause a full-blown crisis. These famous plagiarism cases prove that even world leaders aren’t immune to copy-paste scandals and the fallout can get messy fast.
Joe Biden - 1988 Presidential Campaign Slip-Up
None other than Joe Biden was involved in one of the earliest famous plagiarism cases in U.S. politics. Back in 1988, Biden, during his presidential campaign, was accused of lifting lines from a speech by British politician Neil Kinnock without giving credit. It wasn’t just a few words either; he repeated entire lines, including personal anecdotes. Once the media picked up the story, more examples surfaced, including plagiarism in a law school paper from his earlier years. The controversy led him to drop out of the race. Although he later made a political comeback, this case is still being brought up today.
Melania Trump - 2016 RNC Speech
You can't help but question Melania Trump’s 2016 Republican National Convention speech, which suspiciously drew immediate comparisons to Michelle Obama’s 2008 address. Viewers noticed that entire phrases and themes were nearly identical. The similarities went viral, and the Trump campaign initially denied any wrongdoing. But eventually, a speechwriter admitted responsibility, and the story died down. Still, it’s one of the most memorable and publicly famous plagiarism cases in recent political history.
Rand Paul - Speeches and Articles Under Fire
In 2013, U.S. Senator Rand Paul was accused of lifting content from sources like Wikipedia and think tank reports in several of his speeches and published articles. The passages were copied almost word-for-word and not properly cited. Paul admitted that his team hadn’t always been careful with sourcing and said they’d do better moving forward. While he didn’t face legal trouble, the controversy damaged his credibility and became a talking point in the media.
If you're unsure what could happen after submitting copied work, our article on the consequences of plagiarism explains everything in detail.
Famous Plagiarism Cases in Music
In the music world, a hit song can make careers, break records and sometimes spark lawsuits. With thousands of songs floating around, it’s not that rare for two tracks to sound a little too similar. But when the similarities go beyond coincidence, things can get messy fast. These famous plagiarism cases show just how complicated and expensive borrowing a beat can be. Read on and learn about music cases of plagiarism and consequences.
George Harrison - ‘My Sweet Lord’ vs. ‘He’s So Fine’
This one goes way back to the '70s. After leaving The Beatles, George Harrison released the famous song My Sweet Lord, which was a huge hit. But there was one simple problem: it sounded almost exactly like the song, He's So Fine, by a girl group from the '60s, The Chiffons. A court decided that Harrison copied the song without meaning to. They called it 'subconscious plagiarism,' which basically means he didn't realize he was doing it. Still, he had to pay over $500,000. Ouch..
Robin Thicke & Pharrell - ‘Blurred Lines’ vs. ‘Got to Give It Up’
Blurred Lines came out in 2013, and it was everywhere. But soon enough, Marvin Gaye’s family noticed how much it reminded them of Gaye’s classic Got to Give It Up. They sued and won. The court said it wasn’t just about melody or lyrics but the overall feel of the song. Thicke and Pharrell were ordered to pay more than $5 million. A lot of artists got nervous after that one.
Led Zeppelin - ‘Stairway to Heaven’ vs. ‘Taurus’
Even legends aren’t safe. Led Zeppelin was taken to court over the iconic intro to Stairway to Heaven. The band Spirit said Zeppelin lifted it from their song Taurus, which came out a few years earlier. After years of back-and-forth, Zeppelin finally won the case in 2020. Still, fans on both sides argued about it; some say it was too close to be a coincidence, and others say it’s just a few shared chords.
Katy Perry - ‘Dark Horse’ vs. ‘Joyful Noise’
Back in 2014, Christian rapper Flame sued Katy Perry over Dark Horse, saying she copied part of his track Joyful Noise. A jury agreed at first, and the case made headlines. But later, a judge tossed out the verdict, saying the musical bit they focused on was way too common to be protected. Even so, it was a reminder that even a short beat can land you in court.
Final Words
After learning about these famous cases of plagiarism, we're reminded that no single one of us is above the rules, not even musicians, politicians, professors, or bestselling authors. With a copied lyric, a lifted speech, or a faked research paper, credibility can crumble really quickly. Some tried to explain it away, others faced real consequences, but every case stirred public reaction and raised questions about originality, ethics, and trust.
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FAQ
What Are The Consequences Of Plagiarism In School Or Work?
Plagiarism can lead to failing grades, suspension, expulsion, and for work - job loss. It damages reputation and trust and, what's worse, often permanently.
Is Plagiarism A Crime, Or Is It Just Unethical?
Plagiarism isn't always a crime. But sometimes, it can be if the case involves copyright infringement or fraud. As we saw in the article, legal action depends on the case.
Sources
- Windsor, Laura. “Did Leonardo da Vinci Copy?” Scientific American, February 22, 2021. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/did-leonardo-da-vinci-copy/.
- Bhattacharjee, Yudhijit. “India's Plagiarism Problem.” Nature, April 20, 2006. https://www.nature.com/news/2006/060417/full/news060417-10.html.
- Totenberg, Nina. “Court Rules in Favor of Led Zeppelin in ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Case.” NPR, March 9, 2020. https://www.npr.org/2020/03/09/813731385/court-rules-in-favor-of-led-zeppelin-in-stairway-to-heaven-case.
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