What is Copyright Infringement? Copyright vs Plagiarism
In order to avoid violations of either (and the rights of the original writers), it’s important to understand what they are and what the difference is. Learning how to properly build on an original author’s work and credit them where needed is academic integrity, not to mention a professional necessity beyond the world of education.
What Is Copyright Infringement?
Copyright infringement is different from plagiarism because you have to have permission to use the work of another author. Essentially, the creator has protected work because they want credit for the outside distribution of it. Copyright law declares them a copyright owner of their work. One well-known example of unauthorized use that is easy to notice is using a quote from an author in the book without their permission and getting compensated for it.
Another example is using music in videos without the permission of the artist. In this case, the songwriter or record label is the copyright holder, and the user has committed a copyright violation. Though in most cases, this sort of violation is unintentional, this is one of the most common copyright issues that create issues for people, and even more commonly, businesses.
Celebrities and brands may also have exclusive rights to phrases or even sounds, meaning that if someone else uses them and gets compensated for it, the original creator can be entitled to the earnings. This is another form of copyright protection.
What Is Plagiarism?
Plagiarism occurs when one passes on an original source as their own work. An example of accidental plagiarism is when you copy a quote from a book and forget to use quotation marks and add the proper citation beside it. The same can occur if you are unsure how to create an accurate citation.
Another example is paraphrasing plagiarism. In this case, you may not believe you are copying another’s work because you put their ideas in your own words. However, this is still plagiarism if the proper credit is not given to the author.
Copyright vs Plagiarism: The Key Differences
So, which is a copyright violation, and how is it different from plagiarism?
Let’s break down the core differences:
| Aspect | Copyright Infringement | Plagiarism |
| Definition | Using someone’s copyrighted work without permission | Using someone’s ideas, expressions, or words without credit |
| Legal or Ethical? | Legal violation | Ethical violation (sometimes academic or professional misconduct) |
| Requires Original Work to be Copyrighted? | Yes | No, even non-copyrighted content can be plagiarized |
| Can You Be Sued? | Yes, if the work is copyrighted | No, usually punished academically or professionally |
| Example | Reposting a copyrighted video | Paraphrasing a paragraph from a blog without citing |
In short, plagiarism is primarily about a lack of proper credit, while copyright infringement is about a lack of permission. And yes, it’s possible to commit both at once.
Is Plagiarism Illegal?
A common question is: Is plagiarism illegal? The answer is not always.
Plagiarism is usually handled within academic institutions or professional settings through internal policies. Students may receive failing grades, academic probation, or expulsion. Professionals may face job loss or reputational damage.
However, if the plagiarized content is also copyrighted, then it can also count as copyright infringement, which is legally actionable. That’s when plagiarism steps into the realm of illegality.
So, while not always a legal issue, plagiarism is never safe to commit, whether academically or professionally.
Can You Plagiarize a Public Domain Work?
This is where things can get a little confusing. Can you plagiarize something that’s not copyrighted, like a public domain work?
It’s easy to see how the rules of plagiarism and copyright infringement can get confusing because you can technically “plagiarize” a public domain. One thing to realize in this case is that it’s not legal to sue someone for plagiarizing a public domain.
At the same time, you can still be penalized for it in some cases. If an educator poses as an original author of content on a public domain and takes credit for it, they are putting their career in jeopardy. Realistically, they could be terminated from their current position and find it difficult to find other work if they abuse this.
How to Avoid Copyright Infringement?
Avoiding copyright infringement boils down to one major principle: Always get permission to use someone else’s work, or use works that are free for public use (Creative Commons, public domain, etc.).
Here are a few tips on how to avoid copyright infringement:
- Use royalty-free or Creative Commons licensed media.
- Ask for written permission from the copyright holder before using their work.
- Don’t assume content online is free to use just because it’s accessible.
- Use original content or transform existing content substantially enough to qualify for fair use (be cautious—this isn’t always a legal safety net).
- Leverage tools like a plagiarism checker to identify content that may resemble existing material too closely.
The Role of Plagiarism Checker Tools
In this content-rich world, plagiarism checker tools are your first line of defense against both unintentional plagiarism and potential copyright infringements.
Tools like Quetext allow writers, students, teachers, and professionals to scan their content for any passages that resemble existing published work. Using DeepSearch™ Technology, Quetext quickly analyzes large sections of text for any copied or closely matched phrases.
This is especially helpful when dealing with paraphrased content. Even if you reword something from a source, if it’s too close to the original without citation, it can still count as plagiarism. A plagiarism checker will highlight these issues so you can revise accordingly.
Why You Should Use a Citation Generator?
In addition to plagiarism detection, citation generators help maintain academic and ethical writing standards. Once your content has been scanned and quotes or paraphrased sections have been flagged, the next step is ensuring those are properly cited.
Quetext’s citation generator, for example, allows you to select the style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) and automatically creates citations for flagged passages. This saves time, ensures consistency, and removes confusion from the often-complex world of citation formatting.
Citation generators are also great tools for beginners or anyone unfamiliar with academic writing standards, ensuring you’re not penalized for citation errors or missed references.
Why Both Issues Matter for Everyone?
It’s easy to dismiss plagiarism or copyright infringement as problems exclusive to academics or the legal profession. But that’s not the case.
- Students risk academic penalties or failing grades.
- Educators could face suspension or termination.
- Writers and marketers may lose credibility and clients.
- Brands and businesses could face lawsuits, financial losses, and PR crises.
Understanding the nuances of copyright vs plagiarism helps create a strong ethical foundation, allowing creators to innovate while respecting the intellectual property of others.
Final Thoughts
While copyright infringement and plagiarism share the theme of using someone else’s work improperly, they are not the same thing. Plagiarism is an ethical issue often tied to failure to credit, while copyright infringement is a legal offense tied to failure to get permission. However, the two can overlap.
To summarize:
- Plagiarism is not always illegal, but it is always unethical.
- Copyright infringement is a legal issue that can carry serious consequences.
- Plagiarism can still occur with non-copyrighted or public domain content.
- Plagiarism checker tools like Quetext help avoid unintentional duplication.
- Citation generators ensure proper credit and formatting.
With tools like Quetext’s plagiarism checker and citation generation, users can confidently create content that respects both legal and ethical boundaries. Whether you’re a student, educator, writer, or content marketer, understanding these distinctions and leveraging the right tools will help you maintain integrity and credibility in all your work.
