From the Council of Writing Program Administrators
Plagiarism:
In an instructional setting, plagiarism occurs when a writer deliberately uses someone else’s language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge) material without acknowledging its source.
This definition applies to texts published in print or on-line, to manuscripts, and to the work of other student writers.
Plagiarism (n.d.) In Council of Writing Program Administrators. Retrieved from http://wpacouncil.org/positions/WPAplagiarism.pdf
From U.S Copyright Office Definitions
Copyright:
A form of protection provided by the laws of the United States for "original works of authorship", including literary, dramatic, musical, architectural, cartographic, choreographic, pantomimic, pictorial, graphic, sculptural, and audiovisual creations. "Copyright" literally means the right to copy but has come to mean that body of exclusive rights granted by law to copyright owners for protection of their work. Copyright protection does not extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, title, principle, or discovery. Similarly, names, titles, short phrases, slogans, familiar symbols, mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, coloring, and listings of contents or ingredients are not subject to copyright.
Copyright. (n.d.) In U.S. Copyright Office Definitions. Retrieved from http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/definitions.html
Next time you read a scholarly article notice the © copyright. Is it?
© The author or authors; for example,
© The Author(s) 2013.
© The database; for example,
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
© The society that publishes the journal; for example,
© 2014 American Psychological Association.
© The university press that publishes the journal; for example,
© 2015 by the University of Georgia.