Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the representation of another person's language, thoughts, ideas, or expressions as one's own original work.^[1][2][3] Although precise definitions vary depending on the institution,^[4] in many countries and cultures plagiarism is considered a violation of academic integrity and journalistic ethics, as well as of social norms around learning, teaching, research, fairness, respect, and responsibility.^[5] As such, a person or entity that is determined to have committed plagiarism is often subject to various punishments or sanctions, such as suspension, expulsion from school^[6] or work,^[7] fines,^[8][9] imprisonment,^[10][11] and other penalties.

Not all cultures and countries hold the same beliefs about personal ownership of language or ideas, and plagiarism is typically not in itself a crime. However, like counterfeiting, fraud can be punished in a court^[12][13] for prejudices caused by copyright infringement,^[14][15] violation of moral rights,^[16] or torts. In academia and in industry, it is a serious ethical offense.^[17][18] Plagiarism and copyright infringement functionally overlap, depending on the copyright law protection in force, but they are not equivalent concepts,^[19] and although many types of plagiarism may not meet the legal requirements in copyright law as adjudicated by courts, they still constitute the passing-off of another's work as one's own, and thus plagiarism.