NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL
OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS
CLOSEOUT MEMORANDUM
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11 Case Number: A-04080054 Page 1 of 1 11
We received an allegation that the subject's NSF contained the same project idea
(intellectual theft) as the complainant's earlier collaborative NSF proposal.2 The complainant
explained that he had reviewed the NSF Website for awards and observed that the subject had
received an award for his idea.
Our review determined that the project idea presented in each proposal was not unique to either
complainant or subject. The project idea was a common project idea publicly encouraged by
their scientific community. In addition, our closer comparison of the two NSF proposals showed
that, although each used some common techniques, the actual proposed approaches were
significantly different. We concluded that there was no substance to the allegation of intellectual
theft against the subject.
This case is closed and no further action will be taken.
NSF 01G Form 2 (1 1/02)
Intellectual Theft
Published by the National Science Foundation, Office of Inspector General on 2004-09-14.
Below is a raw (and likely hideous) rendition of the original report. (PDF)