When suspecting plagiarism in SPCs...

[Guest guest]

I recently was asked to review some translations of SPCs. While

Googling some terms I discovered that the translator had clearly cut

and pasted entire sentences and paragraphs of text from SPCs of

similar substances published on the Web. I have seen before that SPC

text seems to flow freely from SPC to SPC in what looks like

plagiarism to me.

Naturally, sometimes the two texts are from the same company, and then

I understand they own (the copyright to) that text. But when the next

translator goes back to the English again, even for the same company,

and even assuming the medical goal is to have the most accurate text

possible, how much " borrowing " is OK before calling foul on another

translator, especially without proof, but only heavy suspicion?

Related to this, we translators are seldom told what the real purpose

of a translation or edit. If the mother company's medical director is

merely wanting to make sure that SPC's info (in a language she/he

doesn't know) is accurate, and that's it, then maybe, maybe, copying

in a perfect description from the web that accurately expresses it may

serve that goal, no matter what the shadey ethics. But if the real

goal is to later publish, and it now contains second-party, then the

translator has just opened the company up for a plagiarism suit, and

perhaps themselves.

Further related to even this, is that I often get the impression that

the drug companies themselves often freely " borrowing " key sections

from competitor's SPCs (especially when writing in what is not one's

mother tongue). Thus the translator may be blindly translating " pre-

plagiarised " text and so the impression of him/her being the guilty

party may be largely illusionary.

So, to get the question, what experience have you had with SPC texts

and originality/plagiarism? While we all know that intellectual

property rights are always to be respected, what is the reality? How

much " borrowing " is going on among companies and translators that is

being winked at, because everyone just want to save time, not rock the

boat and wants to have their hands free when they are in need the

perfect sentence? How do you folks deal with others' plagiarism when

involved in a project? In my case, I did point out my suspicions. So

now I need to know: did I just step out of line in calling attention

to what the " official " rules are and thus made an ass out of myself

because " everybody " knows this already and have long since tacitly

agreed to look the other way?

[Guest guest]

I totally agree with Dawn. We do the best for the industry, and the

patients.Besides the fact that for Europe we must apply and follow carefully

the EMEA templates, which limits any desire of fantasy, please don't forget

that what you think to be different and separate companies are often the

same, or at least belong to the same giant group and apply the internal

group policy. So, there's no plagiarism :-) Money is going into the same

pocket :-))

Re: When suspecting plagiarism in SPCs...

> Hi ,

> The industry already has loads of formulaic expressions and standard

terminology that are expected to appear in SPCs anyway. Also, I work for one

company for which I use a TM. This means that there is a lot of repetition

between SPCs and/or package inserts from the same company anyway, which

shouldn't be a problem. What I am wondering is whether what you have

encountered is actual plagiarism or just the wording and terminology that is

expected in the industry. Personally, when I am translating such documents,

I want to research and know how particular phrases have been translated by

others before, whether in the same company or by others - and then go with

the most accurate, easy to read translation I can come up with, which also

complies with the industry standards. I suppose this could very well be

identical with what someone else has written - but I don't think that is my

concern. I would be interested in hearing what others have to say, though.

>

> Dawn Montague

>

> -------------- Original message --------------

>

>

> > I recently was asked to review some translations of SPCs. While

> > Googling some terms I discovered that the translator had clearly cut

> > and pasted entire sentences and paragraphs of text from SPCs of

> > similar substances published on the Web. I have seen before that SPC

> > text seems to flow freely from SPC to SPC in what looks like

> > plagiarism to me.

> >

> > Naturally, sometimes the two texts are from the same company, and then

> > I understand they own (the copyright to) that text. But when the next

> > translator goes back to the English again, even for the same company,

> > and even assuming the medical goal is to have the most accurate text

> > possible, how much " borrowing " is OK before calling foul on another

> > translator, especially without proof, but only heavy suspicion?

> >

> > Related to this, we translators are seldom told what the real purpose

> > of a translation or edit. If the mother company's medical director is

> > merely wanting to make sure that SPC's info (in a language she/he

> > doesn't know) is accurate, and that's it, then maybe, maybe, copying

> > in a perfect description from the web that accurately expresses it may

> > serve that goal, no matter what the shadey ethics. But if the real

> > goal is to later publish, and it now contains second-party, then the

> > translator has just opened the company up for a plagiarism suit, and

> > perhaps themselves.

> >

> > Further related to even this, is that I often get the impression that

> > the drug companies themselves often freely " borrowing " key sections

> > from competitor's SPCs (especially when writing in what is not one's

> > mother tongue). Thus the translator may be blindly translating " pre-

> > plagiarised " text and so the impression of him/her being the guilty

> > party may be largely illusionary.

> >

> > So, to get the question, what experience have you had with SPC texts

> > and originality/plagiarism? While we all know that intellectual

> > property rights are always to be respected, what is the reality? How

> > much " borrowing " is going on among companies and translators that is

> > being winked at, because everyone just want to save time, not rock the

> > boat and wants to have their hands free when they are in need the

> > perfect sentence? How do you folks deal with others' plagiarism when

> > involved in a project? In my case, I did point out my suspicions. So

> > now I need to know: did I just step out of line in calling attention

> > to what the " official " rules are and thus made an ass out of myself

> > because " everybody " knows this already and have long since tacitly

> > agreed to look the other way?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/medical_translation

> >

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