Is There a Difference Between Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement?
Yes. Writers, academic scholars, and students must avoid plagiarism and copyright infringement to ensure academic integrity. However, while these words may be considered synonymous in some regards, there is a clear difference between the two. In this article, we’ll explore the definitions of plagiarism and copyright infringement as well as how to avoid them in order to understand the difference between copyright infringement and plagiarism.
What is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism is when someone takes the work or words of another and presents them as their own original work without giving credit to the original author or speaker. While the term is generally used for academic research papers and articles, it can also be applied to works of art, music, and drama.
Any form of content that has been taken from a source without properly giving credit to that source is considered plagiarism.
Is Copying Material From the Internet Considered Plagiarism?
Yes. Copying material from the Internet without properly citing the work is considered plagiarism. Even anonymous writings that are found on the Internet are considered plagiarism if you do not give credit to the site and source of the information.
How to Avoid Plagiarism
There are many ways to avoid plagiarism, but one of the best ways is to properly cite source material that you know isn’t yours. While it’s clear that direct quotations should be cited, some styles, such as MLA, APA, and more, require you to cite sources for summaries and paraphrasing. Therefore, knowing and understanding the style guide for your school, course, or company is essential to avoiding plagiarism.
Another way to avoid plagiarism is to run all your work through a plagiarism checker to ensure that you are citing material properly and not forgetting to credit your sources.
What is Copyright Infringement?
Copyright infringement is the unauthorized use, distribution, or reproduction of material that has been copyrighted. Works that have been copyrighted are protected under copyright laws, which protect the intellectual property of the writer, artist, publisher, or producer.
How Copyright Infringement Occurs
Copyright infringement can occur in several ways, including:
- Copying or reproducing content without permission
- Distributing copyrighted material
- Publicly displaying or performing protected works
- Creative derivative works (works that include elements of someone else’s copyrighted work)
Legal Consequences of Copyright Infringement
Copyright infringement comes with penalties that can range from paying damages to the copyright owner to imprisonment. The copyright owner can sue the person who has committed copyright infringement for damages, and the defendant (the person who committed the infringement) must pay compensation.
Not all copyright laws have the same rules. In some cases, the copyright owner has specific clauses added to the legal document outlining the norms for copyright infringement. Therefore, it’s essential to know the copyright guidelines given by the copyright owner. A copyright document that clearly states the rules and regulations regarding the reproduction or use of a document can be obtained from the copyright office.
How to Fight Copyright Infringement
Fighting copyright infringement begins with understanding copyright laws. Always read the terms and conditions, look up the copyrights of the work you are looking into, and be sure to run your work through a plagiarism checker.
If you own a website or platform on which you’d like to monitor for copyright infringement, one of the best ways to fight copyright infringement is to add content verification, such as the Copyleaks Plagiarism Checker API, to your website or platform. This will ensure that you and your users are avoiding copyright infringement efficiently. To take it one step further, you can look into how to report copyright infringement.
What’s the Difference Between Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
The difference in plagiarism versus copyright infringement is that plagiarism isn’t always a legal offense, whereas copyright infringement usually involves legal penalties. While plagiarism is generally understood as using someone else’s work without providing citations, copyright infringement can be understood as the theft of artistic work for personal gain.
At a glance, the difference between plagiarism and copyright infringement can be any of the following:
- Plagiarism can be viewed as an ethical issue, while copyright infringement can be considered a legal issue.
- Copyright infringement involves works protected by copyright laws, whereas plagiarism consists of any work.
- Plagiarism can include the copying of ideas, while copyright infringement encompasses the execution or interpretation of those ideas that have already been implemented.
How to Avoid Plagiarism and Copyright Infringement
If you’re worried about how to avoid plagiarism and copyright infringement, it is best to understand how copyright and plagiarism rules work. Though there are pronounced differences between copyright infringement and plagiarism, the presence of either can affect your reputation. It is essential to exercise caution when using any external source for academic or professional purposes. Always follow best practices for attribution and citation.
Best Practices for Attribution and Citation
- Always credit the original source
- Be specific about who created the content and where it’s from
- Use standard citation styles like APA, MLA, or Chicago
- Hyperlink when possible
- Cite when AI was used to create content.
Plagiarism vs. Copyright Infringement: Check with Copyleaks
With the help of online copyright and plagiarism checkers, avoiding the consequences of plagiarism and copyright infringement is easier.
Copyleaks’s free plagiarism checker helps students and professionals maintain the originality of their content and prevent costly copyright violations.