(Photo: Global Times)

Chinese high school students from nine provinces and municipalities have been accused of plagiarizing research papers. They tried to get past an independent admission system of universities designed to seek talent by hunting students who have won national-level competitions, obtained innovation patents or have papers published in journals. Compared with gaokao, many students consider independent admission a more convenient way to enter their dream schools. Papers are supposed to show research achievements and promote scientific development. When universities use papers to assess students, opportunists may cheat, leaving honest students at a disadvantage. However, the dishonest shouldn't be the only ones to blame. Most Chinese people lack awareness of intellectual property and society hasn't made them realize the consequences of copying others' work.