Is it legal to provide research to students as a service of a business? Research for them to use on their papers or homework, but not writing it for them. For college students, maybe high school students. Is this at all considered cheating according to the law? Can colleges sue the company for providing such a service?
Laws in the United States, particularly Michigan.
PLEASE only knowledge answers...links to credible sources are fine also.
2006-11-12 17:39:35 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Academic freedom gives the schools and students on what to do with their educational system. Thus, they have the choice whether to provide research to students as a service of a business.
2006-11-12 17:43:19 · answer #1 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is no law against providing such a service. In fact Cliff's Notes made a fortune providing a similar service for many years, and is sold all over the country. HOWEVER, and this is a big one, the schools, both colleges and lower, will very likely consider this cheating on the part of the student, and discipline him or her accordingly (which can include failure, suspension, or dismissal from the school).
I don't believe the colleges could or would sue, however it is possible that the students could sue you for damages relating to them getting expelled or whatever.
All in all this is probably not a long lived, high income career choice. Keep looking!
2006-11-12 17:53:26 · answer #2 · answered by Star G 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is perfectly legal.
You could even charge them to write papers for them and this would be legal. It's not illegal for a student to cheat on exams. It is against the school's ethics policy, however.
You should be careful on WHAT you collect for your customers. Your source may be copyrighted, in which case you may not sell that material. Under copyright law, you may not use another's words or ideas beyond what is considered "fair use". Read the wikipedia article; it will give you a layman's idea of the concept of copyright.
If you intend to conduct this business over the internet, you will fall under federal jurisdiction as well. The feds consider the internet to be inter-state commerce.
I have never heard of a statute that specifically deals with your issue, and I believe that you are fine as long as you are not copying other author's research aids and papers.
Good luck with your business
2006-11-12 18:00:54 · answer #3 · answered by Discipulo legis, quis cogitat? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Absolutely not, you are talking about plagiarism and I don't really think its cheating, if you read an article and have to do a report on it then the research your teacher gives you is just that RESEARCH...You then put the research in your own words and thoughts....it's like going on-line and doing research, if you just print out the research before reading it, then that would be cheating, if you read the article in detail and put what you read into your own text, then that is fair game and an A for the day.
2006-11-12 17:53:49 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋