Copyright Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas without giving them credit and is considered dishonest. Copying, performing publishing, or distributing someone else’s work may also be illegal. Anyone who creates an original work--including books, articles, music, computer programs, artwork, movies, videos, choreography, or architectural designs—has legal protection under Canadian copyright laws. An original work is automatically protected as soon as it is created; it doesn’t have to be published or registered with the Copyright Office. Registering a copyright makes it easier to collect damages if infringement occurs. Copyright has legal and often financial dimensions, where plagiarism is more a matter of ethics and academic reputation. The legal system imposes consequences for copyright violation, and an institution imposes consequences for plagiarism.
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