Perhaps it is not the plagiarism itself that is increasing, as a phenomenon, but rather it is the concern of mixing genuine research with mediocre writing or fake results. Perhaps what’s changing is the perception. The tolerance of misconduct in research and publishing seems to be on the edge.
Below are only a few links that can give a broad image of the magnitude this subject has gained in the public perception.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/18962349
http://www.nature.com/news/romanian-panel-calls-prime-minister-a-plagiarist-1.10926
http://www.zeit.de/politik/ausland/2012-07/rumaenien-ponta-plagiatsvorwurf-universitaet
Integru.org aims to raise awareness of the avenues scholars and researchers can pursue in order to expose and comment cases of misconduct that they acknowledge in their field. They can and should make clear boundaries more clear.
The Integru.org Editors