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As a teacher, one of the topics I taught in all of my classes was plagiarism.

In academics, plagiarism is a serious offense and can have severe consequences, from course failure to expulsion.

Students in my classes learn how to properly credit other people’s works and ideas in their own work.

Plagiarism vs. Copyright Infringement

Many people think that plagiarism and copyright infringement are the same thing.

Though they are similar concepts, they are not the same.

Plagiarism is using someone else’s work without giving them credit and is a policy enforced by schools.

Copyright infringement is using someone else’s work without permission and/or compensation (if appropriate) and is a law enforced by the courts.

Plagiarism doesn’t have to include copyright infringement, though it can.

Some works are so old they are not subject to copyright laws – like The Odyssey or works by Shakespeare, for example.