Infringement and plagiarism are illegal but virtually unstoppable, so it's incumbent on the individual to do the "right thing" even when they know they won't get caught.
Fair use becomes an ethical concept in addition to a legal concept because the law is intentionally vague. Without strict guidelines, individuals must decide for themselves what is an appropriate use.
Acknowledging all sources and respecting copyright is important for several reasons. Firstly, it gives proper credit to the original creator or author, which is a matter of ethical and academic integrity. Secondly, acknowledging sources allows readers or viewers to access further information or verify the credibility of the information presented. Lastly, it helps to avoid plagiarism and legal issues associated with copyright infringement.
In the United States, copyright is established by the US Constitution. That would mean it went into effect in 1787. It guarantees the rights of creators to control their works for a specific period of time. Plagiarism is not necessarily illegal, but it is an ethical violation that can get one expelled from schools.
Plagiarism involves deception and theft.
While plagiarism violates many moral and ethical rule systems, copyright infringement is additionally a violation of federal law. Plagiarism is submitting someone else's work as your own, whether or not that work is also copyrighted, i.e., without giving credit for the true source. Copyright is the violation of the author's exclusive rights to duplicate, adapt, distribute, and publicly perform or display the work without authorization, even if you give credit to the author. Copyright eventually expires, but that wouldn't excuse plagiarizing it.
academic writing, plagiarism
No one is exempt from concerns about plagiarism. Plagiarism is a serious ethical issue that affects all individuals, regardless of their background or profession. Proper citation and acknowledgment of sources are necessary to avoid plagiarism.
Because it's impossible for rightsholders or their agents to notice and identify every single infringing act, it's the user's responsibility to do the right thing, even when there's little to no threat of getting caught. Ultimately, copyright enforcement is a moral and ethical idea more than a legal one.
Quite simply: Do not plagiarize.
Copyright laws apply to digital materials in the same way they apply to physical materials, but because the internet makes infringement so cheap and easy, it becomes an ethical issue: doing the right thing even when the wrong thing is easier, and you know you won't get caught.
Plagiarism can refer to several types of actions, including not crediting a source for information used in an essay or presentation or using someone else's ideas as your own. Colleges classify plagiarism as academic dishonesty. According to Dr. Beth Dixon, a professor of philosophy at Pittsburgh State University, students need to understand why plagiarism is wrong. She suggests discussing the ethical issues with students. shankar bisunke biratnagar, nepal
If you violate copyright laws, you are not only un-ethical - you are committing an unlawful act.
Downloading shareware doesn't carry any ethical questions, because it's meant to be shared.Downloading copyright-protected software is legal with a license, and illegal without one. But since it's virtually impossible for rightsholders to "catch" all the infringing activities, it's beholden upon the individual to do the right thing even without the threat of punishment.