The terms "plagiarism" and "copyright" are often mistakenly used interchangeably when discussing issues related to copying. Although they share some similarities, they are distinct concepts.
Plagiarism occurs when you use someone else's work, ideas, or intellectual property without proper acknowledgment, presenting it as your own. In contrast, copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of someone else's work that is still under copyright protection.
Copyright protects the specific expression of ideas, such as books, music, art, and other creative works, but not the ideas themselves. Unauthorized use of copyrighted material without permission is considered copyright infringement and can lead to legal action.
Example: Copying a chapter from a book and distributing it without the author’s permission.
To avoid copyright infringement, you must obtain the necessary permission from copyright holders or rely on an exception to copyright such as fair use.
Plagiarism is considered an ethical breach rather than a legal issue. It undermines academic integrity and can result in severe consequences such as academic penalties, loss of credibility, and disciplinary actions.
Example: Using paragraphs from a research paper in your own work without citing the original source
To avoid plagiarism, you must properly cite sources and give credit to the original authors for their contributions.
Source: Stephens, B. (2020). Battle of the Remedies: Copyright v. Plagiarism. BUJ Sci. & Tech. L., 26, 407.
| Element | Copyright | Plagiarism |
|---|---|---|
| Nature | Legal Right | Ethical issue |
| Emphasis | Protection of creative works | Proper attribution of ideas and words |
| Consequence | Legal actions, fines, and penalties | Academic penalties, loss of credibility |
| Prevention | Obtaining permission for use | Proper citation and acknowledgment |
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