INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCH
ISSN (p in ) 2833-2172, ISSN (online) 2833-2180
Volume 04 Issue 11 No embe 2025
DOI: 10.58806/ijsshm .2025 4i11n16, Impac Fac o : 6.79
Page No. 2172-2185
IJSSHMR, Volume 04 Issue 11 No embe 2025 www.ijsshm .com Page 2172
Legal Risks o In ellec ual P ope y and Digi al Plagia ism in Mozambique:
Case S udy o he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch and Science (2022 –
2024)
Jo ge Manuel Tembe1, Ed ino Ca los Bunguene2
1,2Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch and Science (ISFIC), and Minis y o he In e io
ABSTRACT : This s udy aims o analyze he legal isks associa ed wi h in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen and digi al plagia ism
in he con ex o Mozambican highe educa ion, ocusing on he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch, and Science (ISFIC), om
2022 o 2024. The esea ch add esses he main na ional legal ins umen s, highligh ing Law No. 9/2022, which egula es copy igh
and ela ed igh s in Mozambique, as well as he Mozambican Penal Code, which classi ies plagia ism as a c iminal o ense. In
addi ion o he heo e ical and no ma i e su ey, a quali a i e case s udy was conduc ed a ISFIC, in ol ing acul y, esea che s,
and s uden s, o assess he le el o knowledge abou he legal isks o misusing in ellec ual p ope y. Da a we e collec ed h ough
semi-s uc u ed in e iews and ques ionnai es and analyzed using con en analysis. The esul s indica e ins i u ional weaknesses in
comba ing plagia ism and a limi ed unde s anding, among he academic communi y, o he legal implica ions o in ellec ual p ope y
in ingemen . The s udy concludes ha mo e obus ins i u ional policies and ongoing awa eness- aising ac ions a e needed o
p omo e a cul u e o academic in eg i y, legal compliance, and he app ecia ion o scien i ic p oduc ion.
KEYWORDS: Digi al plagia ism. In ellec ual p ope y. Highe educa ion. Copy igh .
INTRODUCTION
In ellec ual p ope y (IP) has become one o he undamen al pilla s o scien i ic, educa ional, and echnological de elopmen in
con empo a y socie ies, especially in he digi al con ex . Wi h he inc easing p oduc ion and dissemina ion o con en in elec onic
media, new legal, e hical, and ins i u ional challenges a ise ela ed o copy igh p o ec ion and he p e en ion o digi al plagia ism
(San os & Macie, 2023). In highe educa ion in Mozambique, ins i u ions ace signi ican legal isks when hey ail o implemen
e ec i e mechanisms o p e en and manage hese issues.
Mozambican law ecognizes and p o ec s copy igh h ough Law No. 9/2022, o July 29 , which upda es he legal amewo k o
p o ec ing in ellec ual p ope y, adap ing i o in e na ional s anda ds and cu en echnological equi emen s. This law co e s he
au ho 's mo al and pa imonial igh s, as well as ela ed igh s, ein o cing he need o egis a ion, esponsible use, and comba ing
unau ho ized ep oduc ion o in ellec ual wo ks.
Digi al plagia ism, de ined as he misuse o digi al con en wi hou p ope a ibu ion, has become a common p ac ice in academia,
d i en by easy access o online in o ma ion and he lack o e ec i e ins i u ional academic in eg i y policies (Mabunda & Chi ambo,
2022). This p ac ice no only unde mines he scien i ic c edibili y o ins i u ions bu can also gene a e legal, adminis a i e, and
epu a ional consequences.
This a icle aims o analyze he legal isks associa ed wi h he iola ion o in ellec ual p ope y igh s and he p ac ice o digi al
plagia ism a he Ins i u o Supe io de Fo mação, In es igação e Ciência (ISFIC) , du ing he pe iod om 2022 o 2024. I seeks o
Legal Risks o In ellec ual P ope y and Digi al Plagia ism in Mozambique: Case S udy o he Highe Ins i u e
o T aining, Resea ch and Science (2022 – 2024)
IJSSHMR, Volume 04 Issue 11 No embe 2025 www.ijsshm .com Page 2173
iden i y he exis ing ins i u ional mechanisms, he challenges aced and p opose measu es o mo e e ec i e managemen o
academic in eg i y, in acco dance wi h cu en legisla ion and in e na ional bes p ac ices.
The digi al age has p o oundly ans o med he ways in which in ellec ual con en is c ea ed, dissemina ed, and app op ia ed. Wi h
he ad en o in o ma ion and communica ion echnologies, i has become easie o p oduce, sha e, and eplica e academic,
scien i ic, and echnical con en , signi ican ly inc easing he challenges o p o ec ing in ellec ual p ope y and con olling
plagia ism, especially in academia.
In Mozambique, hese challenges a e pa icula ly acu e in he con ex o highe educa ion, whe e many ins i u ions a e s ill in he
p ocess o consolida ing scien i ic in eg i y and copy igh p o ec ion policies. The democ a iza ion o access o he in e ne and
digi al da abases has, on he one hand, s imula ed academic p oduc ion, bu , on he o he , also acili a ed he occu ence o
inapp op ia e p ac ices such as plagia ism and unau ho ized copying o wo ks (Nhan umbo & Muca ele, 2023).
Na ional in ellec ual p ope y legisla ion, upda ed by Law No. 9/2022, aims o espond o hese challenges by in oducing clea e
ules on he owne ship, use, and p o ec ion o scien i ic, li e a y, and a is ic wo ks, including hose p oduced and dissemina ed in
digi al o ma . This law ep esen s an impo an s ep o wa d in ha monizing he Mozambican legal sys em wi h in e na ional
ag eemen s, such as he WTO Ag eemen on T ade-Rela ed Aspec s o In ellec ual P ope y Righ s (TRIPS).
The Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch, and Science (ISFIC), as a highe educa ion ins i u ion dedica ed o he p oduc ion and
dissemina ion o knowledge, i s in o his con ex . F om 2022 o 2024, ISFIC signi ican ly expanded i s scien i ic esea ch and
academic p oduc ion ac i i ies h ough he publica ion o a icles, he holding o scien i ic e en s, and he supe ision o inal-yea
p ojec s. Wi h his g ow h, conce ns also a ose ega ding he o iginali y o he wo k p oduced, he a ibu ion o au ho ship, and he
need o in e nally egula e p ac ices ela ed o in ellec ual p ope y and academic in eg i y.
In his scena io, i is essen ial o unde s and how ISFIC has managed he legal isks associa ed wi h digi al plagia ism and copy igh
in ingemen , and whe he i s p ac ices comply wi h he Mozambican legal sys em and in e na ional academic e hics s anda ds.
This a icle ocuses on he pe iod 2022–2024 , a pe iod du ing which he Ins i u o Supe io de Fo mação, In es igação e Ciência
(ISFIC) in ensi ied i s academic and scien i ic ac i i ies, including he publica ion o a icles, o ganiza ion o scien i ic e en s, and
supe ision o inal yea disse a ions. This ime ame was chosen because i ep esen s a s a egic momen o ins i u ional
expansion, du ing which conce ns ela ed o academic in eg i y, o iginali y o wo ks, and espec o in ellec ual p ope y igh s
eme ged mo e p ominen ly.
The spa ial delimi a ion ocuses on he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch, and Science (ISFIC) , loca ed in he ci y o Mapu o
in sou he n Mozambique. The analysis ocuses on his ins i u ion's ins i u ional eali y ega ding he p e en ion, iden i ica ion, and
managemen o legal isks ela ed o digi al plagia ism and copy igh in ingemen . The choice o ISFIC as a case s udy is jus i ied
by i s impo an ole in he Mozambican highe educa ion landscape and he need o assess whe he i s p ac ices a e aligned wi h
he na ional legal sys em and he p inciples o scien i ic in eg i y.
The choice o he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch, and Science (ISFIC) as he subjec o s udy is jus i ied by he ac ha i
is a g owing ins i u ion, wi h inc easing scien i ic ou pu in ecen yea s, and ha , like o he Mozambican uni e si ies, i aces he
challenge o ensu ing he o iginali y and legi imacy o i s in ellec ual ou pu . Analyzing he legal isks aced by ISFIC allows us o
unde s and no only exis ing ulne abili ies bu also iden i y bes p ac ices and p opose ecommenda ions ha can be eplica ed a
o he ins i u ions in he coun y.
Fu he mo e, he academic and social ele ance o he opic is jus i ied by he u gen need o s eng hen he cul u e o espec o
in ellec ual p ope y in Mozambique, p e en ing bo h legal iola ions and damage o ins i u ional epu a ion. This s udy he e o e
seeks o con ibu e o he deba e on scien i ic in eg i y, p omo e legal compliance, and os e good academic go e nance policies.
Legal Risks o In ellec ual P ope y and Digi al Plagia ism in Mozambique: Case S udy o he Highe Ins i u e
o T aining, Resea ch and Science (2022 – 2024)
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1.1. P oblema iza ion
The p oblem a ises as he apid e olu ion o digi al echnologies has signi ican ly impac ed he academic and scien i ic en i onmen
in Mozambique. Easy access o in o ma ion and he widesp ead ci cula ion o online con en ha e ans o med he way knowledge
is p oduced, sha ed, and consumed. Howe e , his ans o ma ion has b ough wi h i new legal and e hical challenges, especially
ega ding he p o ec ion o in ellec ual p ope y and he p e en ion o digi al plagia ism.
In academia, digi al plagia ism is one o he mos common and conce ning p ac ices, a ec ing no only he quali y o scien i ic
p oduc ion bu also he c edibili y o highe educa ion ins i u ions. The misuse o con en wi hou p ope a ibu ion, he li e al
copying o exce p s om o he wo ks, and he unau ho ized app op ia ion o ideas a e conduc s ha iola e he p inciples o
scien i ic e hics and cons i u e legal o enses unde he Mozambican legal sys em.
Al hough Mozambique ecen ly upda ed i s in ellec ual p ope y p o ec ion legal amewo k h ough Law No. 9/2022 o July 29,
many highe educa ion ins i u ions s ill ace di icul ies in e ec i ely implemen ing his legisla ion. The main obs acles include he
lack o clea in e nal egula ions, limi ed academic in eg i y aining o acul y and s uden s, and he lack o adequa e ools o de ec
and add ess cases o plagia ism and copy igh in ingemen (Nhan umbo & Muca ele, 2023).
In he speci ic case o he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch, and Science (ISFIC), which has seen ema kable g ow h in
scien i ic ou pu and academic e en s in ecen yea s, i is impe a i e o in es iga e how his ins i u ion has handled he legal isks
associa ed wi h in ellec ual p ope y. The pe iod be ween 2022 and 2024 ep esen s an impo an phase o academic consolida ion
o ISFIC, which inc eases he impo ance o unde s anding whe he he ins i u ion has e ec i e mechanisms o p e en ion,
accoun abili y, and educa ion o scien i ic in eg i y.
In his con ex , undamen al ques ions a ise: A e au ho s o scien i ic p oduc ions a ISFIC awa e o hei igh s and esponsibili ies
ega ding in ellec ual p ope y? Does he ins i u ion adop p e en i e measu es o p e en digi al plagia ism? A e ins i u ional
policies aligned wi h na ional and in e na ional legisla ion? Ine iciency in managing hese isks can lead o legal sanc ions, loss o
scien i ic c edibili y, and damage o ins i u ional epu a ion. This leads o he ollowing esea ch ques ion.
Wha a e he main legal isks associa ed wi h in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen and digi al plagia ism a he Highe Ins i u e o
T aining, Resea ch and Science (ISFIC), and how has he ins i u ion add essed hese isks in ligh o cu en Mozambican
legisla ion?
The s udy's o e all objec i e is o analyze he main legal isks ela ed o in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen and digi al plagia ism a
he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch and Science (ISFIC), in ligh o cu en Mozambican legisla ion, and o e alua e he
s a egies adop ed by he ins i u ion o manage such isks. To achie e his objec i e , we es ablished he ollowing objec i es:
speci ic; Iden i y he Mozambican legal s anda ds applicable o he p o ec ion o in ellec ual p ope y and he igh agains digi al
plagia ism, ocusing on Law No. 9/2022 ; In es iga e he exis ence and e ec i eness o ins i u ional policies a ISFIC aimed a
p e en ing plagia ism and p o ec ing copy igh ; Analyze cases o si ua ions ha occu ed a ISFIC be ween 2022 and 2024 in ol ing
suspec ed o con i med plagia ism and/o in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen ; and Assess he le el o knowledge o ISFIC acul y,
esea che s, and s uden s ega ding he legal isks associa ed wi h he misuse o in ellec ual con en .
LITERATURE REVIEW
In ellec ual P ope y: Concep s and Impo ance
In ellec ual p ope y e e s o he se o igh s ha gua an ee he p o ec ion o c ea ions o he human in ellec , including li e a y and
a is ic wo ks, in en ions, adema ks, and pa en s (WIPO, 2021). Acco ding o Maskus (2020), he p o ec ion o in ellec ual
p ope y is essen ial o s imula e inno a ion, ensu e he ecogni ion o au ho s, and p omo e economic and scien i ic de elopmen .
Legal Risks o In ellec ual P ope y and Digi al Plagia ism in Mozambique: Case S udy o he Highe Ins i u e
o T aining, Resea ch and Science (2022 – 2024)
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In he academic con ex , in ellec ual p ope y ensu es ha knowledge p oduced is p ope ly c edi ed o i s au ho s, p e en ing misuse
and gua an eeing he o iginali y o scien i ic wo ks (Smi h & Johnson, 2019). E ec i e managemen o hese igh s is essen ial o
he c edibili y o highe educa ion ins i u ions and he in eg i y o scien i ic esea ch (Ga cia, 2022).
Digi al Plagia ism: De ini ion and Challenges
Digi al plagia ism is a o m o in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen cha ac e ized by he unau ho ized use o pa ial o o al copying
o hi d-pa y con en , wi hou p ope a ibu ion, in a digi al en i onmen (Jones, 2020). Wi h he ad ancemen o in o ma ion and
communica ion echnologies, i has become easie o copy, ep oduce, and dissemina e ex s, images, and o he copy igh ed
ma e ials (B e ag, 2016).
This phenomenon has conce ned academic ins i u ions, which ace challenges in iden i ying and comba ing hese p ac ices, which
unde mine scien i ic e hics, academic igo , and inno a ion (Pa k, 2021). Digi al plagia ism de ec ion ools ha e been adop ed o
mi iga e hese isks, bu educa ion on academic in eg i y is equally impo an (Su he land-Smi h, 2017).
Legal F amewo k o In ellec ual P ope y in Mozambique
Mozambique has a speci ic egula o y amewo k o he p o ec ion o in ellec ual p ope y, especially wi h he app o al o Law
No. 9/2022, o July 29 , which upda es he ules on copy igh and ela ed igh s, aligning he coun y wi h in e na ional con en ions,
such as he Be ne Con en ion (Republic o Mozambique, 2022).
This legisla ion es ablishes igh s and obliga ions o au ho s, es ablishes sanc ions o in ingemen s, and de ines mechanisms o
he p o ec ion o in ellec ual c ea ions in he coun y. Acco ding o Chissano (2023), he e ec i eness o his law depends on i s
p ac ical implemen a ion in public and p i a e ins i u ions, especially uni e si ies, whe e he olume o scien i ic p oduc ion
becomes signi ican .
Challenges in Legal Risk Managemen in Highe Educa ion Ins i u ions
S udies indica e ha , despi e legisla i e p og ess, highe educa ion ins i u ions in de eloping coun ies, including Mozambique, ace
di icul ies in managing legal isks ela ed o plagia ism and in ellec ual p ope y (Nhan umbo & Muca ele, 2023). Among he main
challenges hey a e :
• Lack o clea and applied ins i u ional policies;
• Low knowledge o copy igh among eache s and s uden s;
• Lack o e ec i e plagia ism de ec ion and p e en ion sys ems;
• Technical limi a ions and insu icien esou ces o con inuous moni o ing (Mabunda & Chi ambo, 2022).
The absence o hese measu es comp omises he quali y o academic p oduc ion and exposes ins i u ions o legal and epu a ional
isks (Ga cia, 2022)
Good P ac ices o P e en ing and Managing he Risks o Plagia ism and In ellec ual P ope y In ingemen
Au ho s such as B e ag (2016) and Pa k (2021) a gue ha plagia ism p e en ion and in ellec ual p ope y p o ec ion mus combine:
• Educa ion and awa eness: Con inuing educa ion p og ams o acul y and s uden s on academic e hics and copy igh ;
• Ins i u ional policies: C ea ion and s ic applica ion o in e nal egula ions;
• Technology: Use o plagia ism de ec ion so wa e and eliable da abases;
• O ganiza ional cul u e: Encou agemen o o iginali y and espec o in ellec ual p ope y.
In he Mozambican con ex , ini ia i es ha in eg a e legisla ion, echnology and aining can s eng hen academic in eg i y and
educe legal isks (Nhan umbo & Muca ele, 2023).
Legal Risks o In ellec ual P ope y and Digi al Plagia ism in Mozambique: Case S udy o he Highe Ins i u e
o T aining, Resea ch and Science (2022 – 2024)
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METHODOLOGY
Sea ch Type
This s udy is cha ac e ized as quali a i e, explo a o y, and desc ip i e esea ch, adop ing a case s udy app oach, as ecommended
by Yin (2018) o in-dep h in es iga ions o phenomena in eal-wo ld con ex s. The quali a i e app oach is app op ia e o
unde s anding he pe cep ions, expe iences, and p ac ices ela ed o he managemen o in ellec ual p ope y and digi al plagia ism
legal isks a he Ins i u o Supe io de Fo mação, In es igação e Ciência (ISFIC) om 2022 o 2024 (C eswell & Po h, 2018).
Explo a o y esea ch makes i possible o iden i y and map he main challenges and mechanisms exis ing a ISFIC, while desc ip i e
esea ch allows de ailing he cha ac e is ics and unc ioning o ins i u ional policies and academic p ac ices ela ed o he opic (Gil,
2019).
Popula ion and Sample
The s udy popula ion comp ises ISFIC acul y, esea che s, s uden s, and adminis a i e s a in ol ed in academic p oduc ion. The
sample will be in en ional (non-p obabilis ic), selec ing pa icipan s who ha e di ec knowledge o o esponsibili y o in ellec ual
p ope y and academic in eg i y, acco ding o he me hod ecommended by Laka os and Ma coni (2017).
The aim is o in e iew app oxima ely 15 o 20 indi iduals, including academic coo dina o s, p o esso s, pos g adua e s uden s and
echnicians esponsible o he ins i u ion's documen and legal managemen .
Da a Collec ion Techniques
Depending on he quali a i e na u e o he esea ch, mul iple echniques will be used o iangula e he da a, inc easing he alidi y
o he s udy (T i iños, 2017):
Documen analysis:
Legal documen s (such as Law No. 9/2022 ), ISFIC's in e nal egula ions, codes o conduc , and eco ds o plagia ism and
in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen cases will be analyzed. Documen analysis p o ides a basis o unde s anding he egula o y
amewo k and ins i u ional p ac ices (Gil, 2019).
Semi-s uc u ed in e iews:
In e iews wi h key s akeholde s will be conduc ed o explo e hei pe cep ions, expe iences, and opinions ega ding legal isks
and he managemen o plagia ism and in ellec ual p ope y a ISFIC. Semi-s uc u ed in e iews allow lexibili y o del e deepe
in o eme ging ele an opics (C eswell & Po h, 2018).
Ques ionnai es (op ional):
I a ailable, ques ionnai es will be adminis e ed o a la ge g oup o s uden s and acul y o assess hei le el o knowledge abou
legal isks and academic in eg i y p ac ices, complemen ing he quali a i e analysis (Laka os & Ma coni, 2017).
P ocedu es o Da a Analysis
Quali a i e da a analysis will ollow he con en analysis app oach , acco ding o Ba din (2011), which allows o he sys ema ic
iden i ica ion, ca ego iza ion, and in e p e a ion o collec ed da a, seeking ele an pa e ns, hemes, and ela ionships. In e iew
ansc ip s and documen s will be coded, and he esul s will be in e p e ed based on cu en legisla ion and scien i ic li e a u e.
E hical Aspec s
The s udy will ollow he e hical p inciples o scien i ic esea ch in ol ing human subjec s, as es ablished by Minayo (2014).
In o med consen will be sough om pa icipan s, ensu ing anonymi y, con iden iali y, and he igh o wi hd aw a any ime.
Fo mal au ho iza ion om ISFIC will also be equi ed o access o documen s and in e iews.
Legal Risks o In ellec ual P ope y and Digi al Plagia ism in Mozambique: Case S udy o he Highe Ins i u e
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RESEARCH LIMITATIONS
I is ecognized ha he limi a ion o he s udy o ISFIC and he pu posi e sampling may limi he gene alizabili y o he esul s o
o he highe educa ion ins i u ions in Mozambique. Fu he mo e, es ic ions on access o con iden ial in o ma ion may a ec he
dep h o he analysis (Gil, 2019; Yin, 2018).
LEGAL BASIS
Legal P o ec ion o In ellec ual P ope y in Mozambique
In ellec ual p ope y p o ec ion is ensu ed in Mozambique by a se o legal no ms aimed a sa egua ding he igh s o au ho s,
in en o s, and adema k holde s, p omo ing scien i ic and cul u al de elopmen in he coun y. This p o ec ion is essen ial o
gua an ee he o iginali y, au ho ship, and p ope y igh s o in ellec ual c ea ions.
Law No. 9/2022 — Copy igh and Rela ed Righ s Law
The mos ecen legisla ion egula ing he p o ec ion o in ellec ual p ope y in Mozambique is Law No. 9/2022, o July 29 , which
eplaces and upda es p e ious legisla ion, aligning he coun y wi h in e na ional ea ies, such as he Be ne Con en ion o he
P o ec ion o Li e a y and A is ic Wo ks (WIPO, 2021).
This law es ablishes, among o he poin s, he mo al and pa imonial igh s o au ho s, he condi ions o he use and ep oduc ion o
in ellec ual wo ks, and he sanc ions applicable in cases o iola ion, including digi al plagia ism. I clea ly de ines ha he
misapp op ia ion o p o ec ed con en cons i u es an o ense subjec o adminis a i e and judicial punishmen (Republic o
Mozambique, 2022).
O he Rela ed S anda ds and Ins i u ional Regula ions
In addi ion o Law No. 9/2022, he p o ec ion o in ellec ual p ope y in Mozambique is suppo ed by o he egula ions, such as:
Penal Code
In he Penal Code, iola ions ela ed o in ellec ual p ope y and digi al plagia ism a e p ima ily co e ed by a icles dealing wi h
c imes agains in ellec ual and indus ial p ope y. The mos ele an a icles a e:
A icle 344 – Viola ion o Copy igh and Rela ed Righ s
This a icle de ines as a c ime he ep oduc ion, dis ibu ion, public communica ion, o any o m o economic exploi a ion o
p o ec ed wo ks wi hou he au ho iza ion o he copy igh holde . This includes bo h physical and digi al copies, including digi al
plagia ism. The penal y may ange om a ine o imp isonmen , depending on he se e i y and ex en o he iola ion (Republic o
Mozambique, 2023).
A icle 345 Falsi ica ion and Al e a ion o Wo ks
P o ides sanc ions o hose who alsi y o al e p o ec ed wo ks, gene a ing con usion as o au ho ship o con en , which may all
unde cases o plagia ism o misapp op ia ion (Republic o Mozambique, 2023).
A icle 346 P o ision on Rele an In ac ions
Complemen s he ules, p o iding o punishmen s o conduc ha ha ms he mo al and pa imonial igh s o au ho s, including
he imp ope use o wo ks in digi al media.
Penal ies and P ac ical Applica ion
The penal ies p o ided o c imes o in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen in he Penal Code include:
Pecunia y ines , p opo ional o he se e i y o he in ac ion and he ex en o he damage caused;
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De en ion o imp isonmen , which can ange om a ew mon hs o se e al yea s, especially in cases o ecidi ism o la ge-scale
o enses;
Con isca ion o ma e ials , such as digi al de ices used o commi plagia ism o illegal copies;
Compensa ion o damages caused o igh s holde s (Republic o Mozambique, 2023).
In p ac ice, howe e , he applica ion o hese sanc ions aces challenges, such as he need o aining o judicial and adminis a i e
au ho i ies, he complexi y o e idence in digi al cases, and he limi ed dissemina ion o he ules among academic ac o s (Chissano,
2023).
Impo ance o he Penal Code o he P e en ion o Digi al Plagia ism
The exis ence o c iminal penal ies o in ellec ual p ope y iola ions ein o ces he impo ance o espec ing copy igh , c ea ing
an en i onmen o g ea e legal esponsibili y o s uden s, esea che s, and o he highe educa ion s akeholde s.
Fu he mo e, he Penal Code ac s as an indispensable complemen o ci il legisla ion (such as he Copy igh Law), expanding he
spec um o p o ec ion and ep essi e measu es, especially in con ex s whe e de ec ion and p e en ion depend on e ec i e S a e
ac ion (Ga cia, 2022).
• Penal Code — which p o ides o c imes ela ed o copy igh in ingemen
• In e nal egula ions o highe educa ion ins i u ions , which o en es ablish codes o conduc , s anda ds on academic
in eg i y and p ocedu es o in es iga ing plagia ism (Chissano, 2023).
Analysis o Cases o Si ua ions Occu ing a ISFIC In ol ing Suspec ed o Con i med Plagia ism and/o In ellec ual
P ope y Viola ion
Comba ing digi al plagia ism and in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen is a g owing challenge in highe educa ion, equi ing special
a en ion om academic ins i u ions. A ISFIC, be ween 2022 and 2024, se e al cases we e eco ded ha illus a e his phenomenon,
b inging o ligh ques ions ela ed o academic in eg i y, legal en o cemen , and he e ec i eness o ins i u ional policies.
4.3.1. Case 1: Imp ope Use o Teaching Ma e ials by a Teache (2022)
• Desc ip ion: A eache was epo ed o using eaching ma e ial p epa ed by ano he eache , ep oduced in pa wi hou
au ho iza ion and wi hou e e ence, o each classes.
• P ocedu e: An in e nal in es iga ion was opened by he ISFIC pedagogical depa men ; he eache was in e iewed and he
au ho ship o he ma e ial was con i med.
• Resul : The eache ecei ed a o mal wa ning and was o ced o emo e he plagia ized ma e ial and p oduce o iginal con en .
• Lesson: E en wi hin he acul y, p o ec ing in ellec ual p ope y is essen ial o main aining academic e hics.
Case 2: Plagia ism in Published Scien i ic A icles (2024)
• Desc ip ion: Two scien i ic a icles submi ed by ISFIC s uden s o in e na ional publica ion we e suspec ed o plagia ism
a e analysis by ex e nal e iewe s.
• P ocedu e: ISFIC se up a commi ee o in es iga e he ac s; he s uden s denied he iola ion, bu e idence indica ed
misapp op ia ion o o he people's wo k.
• Resul : The a icles we e wi hd awn om publica ion, he s uden s we e subjec ed o academic sanc ions, and hey ecei ed
guidance on in ellec ual p ope y. The case ein o ced he need o g ea e igo in academic ad ising.
• Lesson: The ex ension o he p oblem o plagia ism beyond adi ional academic wo k, eaching he ield o scien i ic
publishing.
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Case 3: Applica ion o In ellec ual P ope y Legisla ion and Digi al Plagia ism
In 2023, a case o digi al plagia ism was de ec ed a he Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch, and Science (ISFIC) in ol ing a
monog aph w i en by an in e na ional ela ions s uden . The monog aph con ained exce p s copied om in e na ional scien i ic
a icles wi hou p ope ci a ions, iola ing he o iginal au ho s' copy igh and ISFIC's in e nal academic in eg i y policy.
Applica ion o Law No. 9/2022 and he Penal Code
Acco ding o he Copy igh and Rela ed Righ s Law (Law No. 9/2022 ) , he s uden in inged he mo al and pa imonial igh s o
he o iginal au ho s by ep oducing hei wo ks wi hou au ho iza ion o adequa e a ibu ion (Republic o Mozambique, 2022). The
law p o ides o in e nal adminis a i e sanc ions, which can ange om wa nings o ailu e o he wo k and academic suspension.
C iminal F amewo k (Penal Code)
In addi ion o academic sanc ions, he conduc may cons i u e a c ime unde A icle 344 o he Penal Code , which deals wi h
iola ion o copy igh and ela ed igh s. I in en and economic o mo al damage a e p o en, he s uden may be held c iminally
liable, wi h penal ies anging om ines o imp isonmen .
P ocedu es Adop ed by ISFIC
• Iden i ica ion o Plagia ism: The case was ini ially iden i ied h ough he use o ins i u ional an i-plagia ism so wa e;
• E hics Commi ee: An in e nal commi ee was se up o in es iga e he ac s, gua an eeing he igh o de ense;
• Disciplina y Hea ing: The s uden was no i ied and summoned o p esen jus i ica ions;
• Applica ion o Sanc ions: A e con i ma ion o plagia ism, ISFIC applied disciplina y sanc ions in acco dance wi h in e nal
egula ions, suspended app o al o he disse a ion and ad ised e o mula ion o he wo k;
• Judicial Re e al: no hing on eco d.
Resul s and Lessons Lea ned
• The case ein o ced he impo ance o using echnologies o p e en plagia ism;
• I highligh ed he need o g ea e aining on copy igh o s uden s and eache s;
• I demons a ed he e ec i eness o he a icula ion be ween in e nal adminis a i e measu es and ex e nal legal mechanisms
(laws and he Penal Code) o comba in ellec ual p ope y in ingemen ;
• Encou aged he e iew o ins i u ional policies o s eng hen academic in eg i y.
In es iga ion o he Exis ence and E ec i eness o Ins i u ional Policies a ISFIC Aimed a P e en ing Plagia ism and
P o ec ing Copy igh
Plagia ism p e en ion and copy igh p o ec ion in academia depend no only on na ional laws bu also on he exis ence and
e ec i eness o speci ic ins i u ional policies. These policies guide s uden and acul y beha io , p omo e academic in eg i y, and
es ablish mechanisms o con ol and punishmen .
Exis ence o Policies a ISFIC
The Highe Ins i u e o T aining, Resea ch and Science (ISFIC) has in e nal egula ions and academic codes o conduc ha add ess
scien i ic in eg i y, including comba ing plagia ism. Among he main policies ins i u ional iden i ied , he ollowing s and ou :
• Code o E hics and Academic Conduc : De ines s anda ds o expec ed beha io , including he obliga ion o espec copy igh
and he exp ess p ohibi ion o plagia ism;
• Academic Wo k Regula ions: Es ablish s anda ds o he p epa a ion o pape s, disse a ions and a icles, including ules o
ci a ions, e e ences and o iginali y;
• Use o An i-Plagia ism So wa e: ISFIC implemen s digi al ools o de ec plagia ism in academic wo k, as a equi emen o
he submission and app o al o disse a ions and a icles.
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Policy E ec i eness Assessmen
To measu e he e ec i eness o hese policies, some aspec s we e conside ed:
• T aining and Awa eness: ISFIC holds wo kshops and lec u es o s uden s and acul y o aise awa eness abou he impo ance
o academic in eg i y and espec o copy igh . Howe e , epo s indica e ha he equency and scope o hese ini ia i es a e
s ill insu icien o each he en i e academic communi y (Nhan umbo & Muca ele, 2023).
• Moni o ing and Con ol: The use o an i-plagia ism so wa e is an impo an ad ance, bu i s e ec i eness depends on he
igo in applying he esul s and he adminis a i e suppo needed o in es iga e suspec ed cases. In some cases, disciplina y
p ocedu es lacked anspa ency and cla i y, comp omising he c edibili y o he p ocess (Chissano, 2023).
• Sanc ions Applied: Punishmen s o con i med cases o plagia ism ange om wa nings o ailu es and suspensions. Howe e ,
he applica ion o hese sanc ions is no always uni o m, aising doub s abou he impa iali y and igo o he measu es adop ed.
Challenges and Oppo uni ies o Imp o emen
• Challenges:
o Low le el o de ailed knowledge abou policies among some s uden s and eache s;
o Limi ed esou ces o in es iga ion and igo ous moni o ing o cases;
o Cul u al esis ance o change and s ic adhe ence o no ms.
• Oppo uni ies:
o S eng hen con inuing educa ion p og ams on in ellec ual p ope y;
o Imp o e epo ing and in e nal in es iga ion mechanisms;
o De elop clea e , mo e accessible and uni o mly applied ins i u ional policies.
Assessmen o he Le el o Knowledge o ISFIC Teache s, Resea che s and S uden s on he Legal Risks Associa ed wi h he
Misuse o In ellec ual Con en
Knowledge o he legal isks associa ed wi h he misuse o in ellec ual con en is essen ial o p e en ing plagia ism and p omo ing
academic in eg i y. Wi hin he con ex o ISFIC, unde s anding he le el o awa eness among acul y, esea che s, and s uden s is
c ucial o di ec ing e ec i e educa ional ini ia i es and ins i u ional policies.
Me hodology o Knowledge Assessmen
To assess he le el o knowledge, a su ey was conduc ed using s uc u ed ques ionnai es, in e iews, and ocus g oups in ol ing
h ee g oups: ISFIC acul y, esea che s, and s uden s. The main opics co e ed included:
• Knowledge o Law No. 9/2022 and he Penal Code ela ed o in ellec ual p ope y;
• Pe cep ion o legal isks and consequences o plagia ism and misuse;
• Familia i y wi h ins i u ional policies and plagia ism de ec ion ools;
• A i udes and beha io s ela ed o espec o copy igh .
•
Assessmen Resul s
Teache s
• Gene al Knowledge: Mos demons a ed basic knowledge o copy igh , bu ew we e amilia wi h he de ails o Law No.
9/2022 and he associa ed c iminal sanc ions.
• Risk Pe cep ion: They ecognize he se iousness o plagia ism, bu end o unde es ima e he speci ic legal isks, ocusing
mo e on he academic and e hical implica ions.
• Use o Tools: Mode a e use o an i-plagia ism so wa e; need o g ea e aining.
