Is It Plagiarism?
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You found a great quote you’d like to include on your Web site, an article that really seems to stick out in your mind, or a line you love so much you can’t do without it. You copy it, you paste it, you put it on your page. Your readers find the same enjoyment in the piece as you; it becomes a great draw for more and more visitors, even a conversation-starter on the forums of your site. You’re not the only Webmaster who’s used the piece, and it seems to be working wonders for your pages. But is it plagiarism?
The world (and the online world) comes with a lot of rules and many different laws to which everyone is supposed to adhere. Even when you try to follow them all, you might find yourself putting a toe over the line every now and then, without even realizing it. Plagiarism can be a little complex, somewhat tricky and extremely confusing for those who aren’t familiar with the exact letter of the law. Could you be copying and pasting your way right into copyright infringement and plagiarism?
Find out what is means to plagiarize, and you’ll know exactly what you can do to avoid it -- and all the consequences therein.
What is Plagiarism?
One of your favorite Web sites creates a unique new poll that you absolutely love. You use the same theme, questions and answers to create a poll on your own pages -- without ever mentioning where you got the idea in the first place. Even if no one ever notices, even if you never get into trouble, it’s still plagiarism.
By definition, plagiarism is the act of using another person’s ideas as your own without giving them credit. This could extend to all areas of creative thinking. A quote, a picture, a painting, a graphic design -- all of these things could be plagiarized if you use them without accrediting the inventor.
Next: Plagiarism vs. Copyrights >>
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