The+Copy+in+Copyright

=Just what *is* Copyright anyway?! =

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Copyright is protection given by law for authors of creative works. Creative works include books, magazines, newspapers, and other written materials. Copyright also protects music, plays, movies, television shows, photographs, paintings, graphic arts created on the computer, speeches, software, computer games, web sites and advertisements. In fact, YOUR creative works are protected by copyright--even the essays you write for school! =====

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Most artists make their money through something called royalties. Royalties are a percentage of sales. This means that when someone uses their creative work without permission by making photocopies or illegally downloading music, movies, or software, they might as well be stealing part of the author's paycheck! Would you work for free? 

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Need another good reason not to "copy" things? Plagiarism - using someone's words without giving credit to them - also comes with serious consequences.

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People who plagiarize might:
 * Fail their class
 * Get kicked out of school
 * Owe money to the author
 * Have a bad reputation forever!

Even celebrities aren't exempt from this important law! J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Australian rock band, Men At Work, have all been accused of plagiarism and had to go to court. Some have even had to pay huge amounts of money for damages! In a digital world, it's easier and easier to find creative work to copy, but it's also easier and easier to find the original. Did you know that your teachers have access to web sites that compare the words in your essay to words that other people wrote? Catching plagiarism is as easy as downloading an essay!

Now, all of this doesn't mean that you can't use other people's work as sources. You should! If you aren't sure how, here is an instructional video to help:

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You can find out more about how to cite your sources at the Purdue Online Writing Lab's APA web site or MLA web site. If you want to learn more about copyright, visit the U.S. Copyright Office on the web!