Copyright Infringement vs. Plagiarism

The general rule is if you copy, display, perform, modify or distribute someone else's copyrighted work without getting permission to do so, it is copyright infringement. One exception to this is FAIR USE.

FAIR USE allows for limited use of copyrighted material in certain circumstances: for the purpose of criticism, review or instruction, including use in an educational context. While you do not necessarily need to get permission, you are required to weigh your proposed use of a work against FOUR fair use FACTORS:

1. What is the purpose and character of the use?
2. What is the nature of the work to be used?
3. How much of the work will you use?
4. What effect would the use have on the market for the original or for permissions if the use were widespread?

Plagiarism is using someone else's work as your own without properly crediting the original author. This takes the form of copying part or all of a work, omitting quotations marks where necessary, and/or failing to reference the original work.