Copyright vs. Plagiarism: Understanding the Key Differences

Copyright

Protects the expression of ideas, not the ideas themselves. It grants creators exclusive rights to their works. Copyright infringement occurs when someone copies, distributes, or displays a work in a way that violates copyright law.

Plagiarism

Occurs when someone passes off someone else's work as their own, or without acknowledging the original source. Plagiarism is a violation of academic norms but not illegal.