Dealing with a colleague who copies your work

[morningdew]

Hi everyone, I will just make this short since I don't want to reveal anyone's information. I have a colleague who's writing a paper that's very similar to my work. This person saw my research so they are familiar with what I have done. They even told me that they were "inspired" by my research. I have talked to other colleagues about this, but there seems to be no definitive solution to my frustration. I'm just hoping that my paper will publish first and karma to play out for them. Any thoughts? 

[fuzzylogician]

Best thing to do, if they already acknowledge that your work "inspired" theirs, is to explicitly ask them to cite you. Can you do that? I assume there is actually something written up that can be cited (even if it's just a handout/slides), otherwise this is a lot trickier. At the same time, if you haven't already, you might consider posting a manuscript on your website or some repository, if that is done in your field, to establish that you got there first. In my field, it's very common to cite unpublished manuscripts and the credit goes to the person who came up with the idea first, not the person who was published first. Have you tried talking with your advisor about this? Also, what is the status of the other person -- a peer, or someone more established? That too makes a difference in how you might want to proceed. Is it someone in your department who you can just take aside? A student of your advisor's, where your advisor can just instruct them to add your paper to the citation list? 

[morningdew]

@fuzzylogician Sorry for a late response and thank you for responding. Update: this person is presenting this work at a large conference that I'm also going to. Too bad I have to come back home at the time when they are presenting... I was planning to go to their presentation and stare at them. At least I don't have to deal with this person again - they got a job as a assistant professor. My advisor is not going to help. Although I'm in good terms, my advisor loves this person more (considers this person as their friend). I think I just have to be a bigger person and let it go. Major sigh. All my other colleagues know that this person copied my work so at least I have some support. From this experience, I feel uncomfortable sharing anything with anyone else.

Edited September 20, 2016 by morningdew

[sca1een]

well..there are loads of online (pretty good) journals, so if I were you, I'd post my research there..but I'd do it before their work is published..so if anyone were to check that guys work, it would show that is plagiarized..simply put, I just would not let it go..I'm just this kind of a person..I guess you are not..besides I know the feeling..well not exactly the same..a colleague of mine (not good at research and stuff) got some help from a writing service..and now he is publishing his work which in fact isn't his..and I just don't get for what perks he is doing that..sooner or later he will have to do some work again, and what's he going to do??go to that service again??for the rest of his life??not sure how he feels, but I'd be feeling like s**t because I couldn't do the work which actually means I chose wrong major and might have screwed up my whole life..so..I'd rather not stand still while such people enjoy their life

Edited September 23, 2016 by fuzzylogician
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