Copyright: The exclusive right to reproduce, publish; to sell any form of literary, musical, or artistic work.
Plagiarism: To steal and pass off someone else's ideas or words as your own. Both of these terms can get you in huge trouble if you don't follow the rules.
Plagiarism is getting to be a huge problem in schools. Kids cheat off other students' tests, copy homework, and send each other answers via text messages or email. In a 1999 survey conducted by The Center for Academic Integrity at Duke University, 75% of students admitted to have cheated, 33% of students admitted to heavy test cheating, and 50% admitted to have cheated on written assignments. Also, 95% of cheaters were not caught.
Copyright infringement, or violation of the copyright law, can result in large fines or imprisonment. YouTube is currently being sued for copyright infringement. Journalist and well-known helicopter pilot, Robert Tur, says he shot a video of the beating of trucker Reginald Denny during the Los Angeles riots of 1992. The video in question has been all over YouTube, and has been watched over 1000 times. Tur is suing for $150,000. A very healthy sum.
I believe that plagiarism and copyright infringement are getting out of hand. Kids will plagiarize to get a better grade, although they fail if they get caught. The kids that don't get caught may perform copyright infringement later in life. What they don't realize is the punishment for copyright infringement is much worse than plagiarizing, and it is easier to get caught. If everyone knew this I think that it would become less common, and the problem would die down.
In conclusion, even though the stakes are high, kids and adults both will cheat to get better grades or more money. Those people should try to learn more about what they are getting in to. Otherwise, they might find themselves in jail.
