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Wikipedia is a free source of knowledge, and people are encouraged to reuse content from Wikipedia. There are several publishers that mirror or print Wikipedia content with proper attribution (e.g. Books LLC). However, a few have copied content from Wikipedia without attribution. One problem with this is that it's unethical as the original Wikipedia contributors are not given any credit for their work. But there's another bigger problem: several of these plagiarized articles or books are later added to Wikipedia articles as references, thus introducing the problem of circular references, also known as citogeneses.

The following sources plagiarize content from Wikipedia, and should not be used as references. Please feel free to add to the list, with appropriate revisions of the Wikipedia articles as evidence.

Gyan Publishing / Isha Books / Kalpaz Publications

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Books published by Gyan Publishing / Isha Books / Kalpaz are not WP:RS in general. Several of their books dating to a period before Wikipedia have also been plagiarized from other sources. See discussions at WP:RSN, WT:MIRROR, WT:IN etc.

Their books that are known to have plagiarized content from Wikipedia include:

  • Dalit : The Downtrodden Of India by Himansu Charan Sadangi (2008)
  • Encyclopaedia of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh by Om Gupta (2006)
    • For example, see page 3 (under "A"): "Abanindranath Tagore (August 7, 1871 - December 5, 1951), was the principal artist of the Bengal school and the first major exponent of swadeshi values in Indian art. ... Such was the success of Tagore's work that it was eventually accepted and promoted as a national Indian style within British art institutions." This is copied without any changes from the 2005 version of the Wikipedia article on Abanindranath Tagore.
  • Freedom fighters of India by Lion M. G. Agrawal (2008)
    • For example, see 129: "The All India Home Rule Leagues ... Most Indians and Indian political leaders had been divided in their response to World War I and the Indian soldiers fighting on behalf of the British Empire against Germany, the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Ottoman Empire. The latter's involvement irked India's Muslims, who saw the Sultan as the Caliph of Islam." Copied verbatim from the 2005 version of the Wikipedia article, with section headings removed.
  • Faith & philosophy of Buddhism by V. S. Bhaskar (2009)
    • For example, see page 99: "Sutras which primarily teach the doctrine of vijnapti-matra or 'representation-only', associated with the Yogacara school ... is said to present the final truth without a need for further explication (nitartha)." Copied from the 2008 version of the Wikipedia article on Mahayana sutras.
  • Faith & philosophy of Christianity by Maya George (2009)
    • For example, see page 5: "Protestant Christians consider that the Bible is a self-sufficient revelation ... The second Helvetic (Latin for "Swiss") Confession, compiled by the minister of the Reformed church in Zurich (heir to Protestant reformer Zwingli) was adopted as a declaration of doctrine by most European Reformed churches." Copied from the 2008 version of the Wikipedia article on Christianity, with some words changed (e.g. successor -> heir, concept -> notion).
  • Faith & philosophy of Hinduism by Rajeev Verma (2009)
    • For example, see page 77: "...was a monk and social reformer of the 16th century Bengal... who was prophesised to seem in the later verses of the Bhagavata Purana." Copied from the 2008 version of the Wikipedia article on Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with a few words changed (e.g. appear -> seem).
  • Faith and Philosophy of Islam by Shamim Akhter (2009)
    • For example, see page 163: "Iqbal was a strong proponent of the political and spiritual revival of Islamic civilisation...". This was present in Wikipedia back in 2006.
  • Faith & philosophy of Jainism by Arun Kumar Jain (2009)
    • For example, see page 8: "As per Jain philosophy, the universe was never created, nor will it ever cease to exist. Therefore, it is shaswat (infinite). It has no start or end, but time is cyclical with progressive and regressive spirituality phases." Copied from the 2008 version of the Wikipedia article, with few words changed.
  • Faith & philosophy of Sikhism by Sardar Harjeet Singh (2009)
    • For example, see page 60: "At the age of five years Nanak is said to have voiced interest in divine subjects ... resembling the mathematical version of one, as denoting the unity or oneness of God ... cobra being seen to shield the sleeping childs head from the harsh sunlight." Copied from the 2008 version of the Wikipedia article on Guru Nanak Dev.
  • Faith & philosophy of Zoroastrianism by Meena Iyer (2009)
    • For example, see page 111: "...was a Zoroastrian high priest of Istakhr and native of Fars who emigrated to the Gujarat in Mughal India ... showed signs of his calling to the contemplative life." Copied from the 2008 version of the Wikipedia article on Azar Kayvan.
  • Great Muslims of undivided India by Nikhat Ekbal (2009)
    • For example, see page 66: "Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy" section. Copied from the 2007 version of the Wikipedia article Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy with only minor trimming and rearrangements.
  • Martial races of undivided India by Vidya Prakash Tyagi (2009)
    • For example, see page 175: "The rise of Khalsa dominance in the Sikh community is sometimes linked with rise of Jat influence in the Sikh community, and the decline of the Khatri influence (all ten Sikh Gurus were Khatris). ... Under the Khalsa dominance, the Sikh religion came to be identified with the Khalsa and the Jats, although not all of the Khalsa Sikhs are Jats, and not all Sikhs subscribed to the Khalsa code of conduct". This is a copy-pasted from the 2007 version of the Wikipedia article Khalsa. Only two words have been changed (linked -> associated, However -> Nevertheless), and the footnotes have been removed.
  • Media Society And Culture by Om Gupta, Isha Books (2006)
    • For example, see page 17: "According to the agenda-setting theory, propounded by Maxwell McCombs and Donald Shaw in the 1970s ... The basic ideas of the theory can be traced back to the work of Walter Lippmann, a prominent American journalist." Copied verbatim from the 2005 version of the Wikipedia article on Agenda-setting theory.
  • Ghosts of the Empire by Kwasi Kwarteng, New York: Public Affairs Books.

Gyan books that may be ok

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Diamond Pocket Books

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  • 101 Hit Films of Indian Cinema by Renu Saran (Diamond, 2014)
    • For example, see pages 115-116: "...originally supposed to star famous Bollywood actors Kishore Kumar and Mehmood in the lead roles. One of the producers, N.C. Sippy...". Already present in Wikipedia in this 2013 version.
  • Encyclopedia of Bollywood–Film Actors by Renu Saran (Diamond, 2014)
    • For example, see page 48: "He made his debut as a child actor playing the young version...". Already present in Wikipedia in this 2013 version.
  • Encyclopedia of Bollywood–Film Actresses by Renu Saran (Diamond, 2015)
    • For example, see page 47: "Khursheed Bano started her film career as Shehla...". Already present in Wikipedia in this 2014 version.
  • Freedom Struggle of 1857 by Renu Saran (Diamond, 2009)
    • For example, see page 72: "By June 1857, the Indian rebellion had spread to several areas near Cawnpore...". Already present in Wikipedia in this 2007 version.
  • History of Indian Cinema by Renu Saran (Diamond, 2014)
    • For example, see page 166: "MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953...". Already present in Wikipedia in this 2013 version.
  • World Famous Scientists by Renu Saran (Diamond, 2014)
    • For example, see page 104: "Kirchhoff formulated his circuit laws, which are now ubiquitous...". Already present in Wikipedia in this 2013 version.

Epitome Books

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A publisher based in New Delhi, probably has some connection with D. K. Agencies, but it is unclear.

  • Anna Orton, Borderland Disputes of India, 2010. Copyright left with the author. States that the "views expressed by the author" are those of the author. Author unknown outside of this work. Has plagiarised content.
    • For example, see page 72: "Since after 1987 disputed rigged Sate elections resulted ..." Copied (as is everything from there through at least page 83) from the 2009 version of the Wikipedia article on Kashmir conflict.
    • For example, see page 112: "The war is closely associated with the Bangladesh Liberation War ..." Copied (as is everything from there through at least page 118) from the 2009 version of the Wikipedia article on Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Vij Books

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  • Chhatrapati Shivaji: The Maratha Warrior and His Campaign by Jeneet Sorokhaibam (Vij Books, 2013)
  • Y M Bammi. India Bangladesh Relations: The Way Ahead. Vij Books. ISBN 9789382573203.
    • This book does cite Wikipedia in certain footnotes, but it uses a lot of content without attribution. For example, the maps used on page 14 are images that were deleted as inaccurate from Wikimedia Commons.

Edtech Press

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  • Sociological Theory- Classical Statements by Dejerius Burgess (Edtech Press, 2021)
  • Essentials of Biochemistry by Alex Mcdonald & Charlie Bowman (Edtech Press, 2018)
    • For example page 275: "Photosynthetic organisms are photoautotrophs, which means that they are able to synthesize..." Copied from 2017 version of the Wikipedia article on Photosynthesis.
  • "Heterocyclic Chemistry" by Alvin Pugh published (Edtech Press, 2019).
    • "Silatranes exhibit unusual properties as well as biological activity in which the coordination of nitrogen to silane plays an important role. Some derivatives such as phenylsilatrane are highly toxic." copied from Atrane **"Benzbromarone is a uricosuric agent and non-competitive inhibitor of xanthine oxidase[1] used in the treatment of gout, especially when allopurinol, a first-line treatment, fails or produces intolerable adverse effects" copied from Benzbromarone.

Self-published

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  • Indian Music Masters of Our Times by Pradeep Thakur (2010)
    • For example, see page 281: "They split on August 5, 1972. It is not clear what made them part their ways. On being asked the reason for their parting". This was already present in the 2007 version of the Wikipedia article on Asha Bhosle.
  • The Literary Works of Ranganathan Magadi by Ranganathan Magadi (2007)
    • Copied with some minor changes. For example, see page 655: "When he was nine years old, he composed...". Already present in 2006 version of Wikipedia article.
  • The Arains: A Historical Perspective by Mukhtar Ahmed (2016)
    • For example, see page 47: "The origin of the Rajputs is the subject of debate. Writers such as...". Already present in 2015 version of the Wikipedia article Rajput.
  • Indian Civilization by Deepak Shinde (2016)
  • A Case Study on Contribution of Karnataka Hockey Players Towards the Development of Indian Hockey by Dr. Manjunath Sahadevappa Raipalli (Lulu.com, 2017)
    • For example, see page 3: "In December 1934, the IHF decided to send a team to New Zealand in the new year...". Present in 2016 version of the Wikipedia article Dhyan Chand.

Others

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  • Business Organisation And Management by Talloo (Tata McGraw-Hill Education, 2007)
    • For example, see page 153: "Advertising is the paid promotion of goods, services, companies and ideas, by an identified sponsor. Marketers see advertising as part of an overall promotional strategy." Copied from the 2005 version of the Wikipedia article on Advertising.
  • Caste, Class And Society by Dr. Deepak Shinde (Pinnacle Technology, 2010)
  • Ancient India History by Amar Singh Dudi (Pinnacle Technology, 2012)

Not plagiarism

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Because Wikipedia is reusable, a source is not considered plagiarized content if it gives attribution to Wikipedia. Content can be legally copied and republished verbatim from Wikipedia as long as attribution is provided. Such sources may be cited on Wikipedia, but with extra caution to ensure avoiding citogenesis. Material sourced from Wikipedia should not be re-referenced on Wikipedia. If a book does not give a separate source, assume it was from Wikipedia - use the article's revision history to verify.

  • Ayres, Robert U. (2021) The History and Future of Technology
    • This book explicitly acknowledges Wikipedia as a source in the Preface, and is thus not plagiarized. However, because the book takes directly from a wide range of articles on Wikipedia without exhaustive attribution, editors are prone to citogenesis with this book.

See also

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  • {{Backwards copy}} - a template used to note such sources on an article's talk page
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