The term “fictitious entry” refers to the deliberate inclusion of fabricated or false details in reference materials, maps, and a variety of other publications. This strategy is frequently used as a copyright trap to identify instances of plagiarism and copyright violation. Instances of this include invented words in dictionaries, such as ‘Esquivalience’ in The New Oxford American Dictionary, or made-up locations on maps, also known as trap streets or phantom settlements. Fictitious entries can also be used in hoaxes or practical jokes, often with the intent to mislead readers for fun. In a more serious light, these entries have been at the center of legal battles, with cases like Feist v. Rural and Nesters Map & Guide Corp. v. Hagstrom Map Co. underscoring their importance in copyright law. They have also been utilized in technology industry cases and academic integrity checks, highlighting their broad use and significance.
Fictitious or fake entries are deliberately incorrect entries in reference works such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and directories, added by the editors as copyright traps to reveal subsequent plagiarism or copyright infringement. There are more specific terms for particular kinds of fictitious entry, such as Mountweazel, trap street, paper town, phantom settlement, and nihilartikel.
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