united-states european-union germany
Is it legal to write PhD theses for other people?
<p>I got an offer from a newspaper to make my story public on how I wrote a lot of PhD's for paying customers. Do I have to fear legal consequences and what would happen if I make it public (without naming the customers)? I didn't wrote in "dangerous" fields like chemistry or medicine. Only in following fields:</p>

<ul>
<li>Physics</li>
<li>Mathematics</li>
<li>Computer Science</li>
<li>Biology</li>
<li>Philosophy</li>
<li>German</li>
<li>French</li>
<li>Law</li>
<li>Economy</li>
<li>Scandinavistic</li>
<li>Molecular Biology</li>
<li>Psychology</li>
<li>Etc.</li>
</ul>

<p>As far as I know, I don't have to fear any legal consequences. But I wanted to ask here to be sure. And do I have to fear problems with lawyers when I go to public with my story? Like they will force me to name my customers? I want to protect my customers - it would be bad for business.</p>

<p><strong>This is a totally theoretical question. I am not asking for legal advice.</strong></p>

<p>Some states in the United States have laws specifically about selling theses (etc.) For example, see <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/pennsylvania/2010/title-18/chapter-73/7324">Pennsylvania Code Title 18 - CRIMES AND OFFENSES Chapter 73 - Trade and Commerce  7324 - Unlawful sale of dissertations, theses and term papers</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>No person shall sell or offer for distribution any dissertation,
       thesis, term paper, essay, report or other written assignment to
       any student enrolled in a university, college, academy, school
       or any other institution within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
       knowing, or under the circumstances having reason to know, that
       said assignment is intended for submission either in whole or
       substantial part under said student's name to such educational
       institution in fulfillment of the requirement for a degree,
       diploma, certificate or course of study.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Similar laws exist in many other states. For example, <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/california/2005/edc/66400-66406.html">California</a>, <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/florida/2010/TitleXLVI/chapter877/877_17.html">Florida</a>, <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/texas/2005/pe/007.00.000032.00.html">Texas</a>, <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/virginia/2006/toc1802000/18.2-505.html">Virginia</a>, <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/oregon/2009/165.html">Oregon</a>, <a href="http://law.justia.com/codes/new-york/2013/edn/title-1/article-5/part-1/213-b">New York</a>.</p>
