• What is copyright?

    Copyright is a legal protection granted to the creators of original works, such as books, music, movies, software, and other creative expressions, giving them exclusive rights to control how their work is used and distributed.

    What is copyright infringement? 

    Copyright infringement refers to the unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or display of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder.

    Copyright infringement is illegal and can lead to various legal consequences, including fines and civil lawsuits filed by the copyright holder to protect their rights and seek damages. 

    Examples:

    • Reproducing copyrighted materials: making copies of music without the artist's permission
    • Public performance or display: showing a movie to the public without permission
    • Distribution: sharing files, such as pictures, without permission

    What is plagiarism?

    Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's words, ideas, or work without proper attribution or permission and presenting them as your own.

    Plagiarism can have serious consequences, such as academic penalties, damage to one's reputation, and legal consequences in some cases.

    Example:

    Imagine a student is writing a research paper on the topic of climate change and comes across an article that provides a well-written and insightful analysis of the causes and effects of climate change. Instead of summarizing or quoting from the article and properly citing it, the student copies entire paragraphs from the article and pastes them into their paper without any quotation marks or citations. In their paper, they present this information as if they wrote it themselves.

    Additional Resources:

    Writing Resources

    Learn how to avoid plagiarism.

    Academic Integrity

    The student handbook discusses plagiarism and its consequences.

    RUSD Copyright Information

    AR 6162.2 

    Free Music

    Free Images