The term "research theft" is widely accepted in academia: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8356/titles?overview=closed https://www.congr

The term "research theft" is widely accepted in academia: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8356/titles?overview=closed https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8356... The original researchers still have their ideas and work, it was "just" copied. Still, we call it stealing and theft. In this case, code was taken and the credit was stolen.