Violation of IPR

Intellectual property rights can be violated in three main ways, and it matters to know them apart: plagiarism, copyright infringement and trademark infringement. Each targets a different aspect of a creator's rights.

(A) Plagiarism

The Internet makes it trivially easy to copy or share text, pictures and videos instantly — which is exactly what makes plagiarism so common.

Plagiarism is presenting someone else's idea or work as one's own idea or work. It arises in two ways:

1. Copying without credit: copying content from the Internet without mentioning the source or the original creator.
2. Derived work passed off as new: deriving an idea or product from an already existing idea or product, but presenting it as a brand-new idea.

Plagiarism is a serious ethical offence, and is sometimes considered an act of fraud. An important subtlety: even when content is open for public use, we should still cite the author or source — using open content without citation is still plagiarism.

(B) Copyright Infringement

Copyright infringement is using another person's work without obtaining their permission, or without paying for it if it is being sold.

The book's example makes the distinction from plagiarism sharp: suppose you download an image from the Internet and use it in your project. If the copyright owner of that image does not permit its free usage, then using the image is a violation of copyright even if you cite the source. Giving a reference cures plagiarism, but it does not cure infringement — only permission (or payment, where required) does.

The general rule: just because something is on the Internet does not mean it is free to use. Always check the copyright status of a work before using it.

(C) Trademark Infringement

Trademark infringement is the unauthorised use of someone else's trademark on products and services. The owner of a trademark may commence legal proceedings against anyone who infringes its registered trademark.

Plagiarism vs copyright infringement — the one-line contrast

The book pins the difference down explicitly: …