Plagiarism and Copyright

Plagiarism is the practice of using another person's words and ideas without acknowledging the source of the information. These words and ideas may be presented in a magazine, newspaper, song, book, movie and advertisement. Copying the exact words of someone through conversing is also plagiarism. When reprinting charts, pictures, diagrams or illustrations without citing the source is another example. The use of paraphrasing is not excepted when the words are merely rearranged or some are replaced. It is not considered plagiarism when writing about your own thoughts, observations, conclusions and experiences. Using generally-accepted facts is acceptable without credit. Putting everything in quotations that comes directly from text when taking notes can possibly save you from committing plagiarism.
Copyright is a form of protection in the U.S. Constitution and granted by law for original works of authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression. It protects original works of musical, dramatic, literary, and dramatic artistic works. It doesn't protect ideas, facts and systems or methods of operation. The moment your work is created and fixed in a tangible form that is perceptible either directly or with the aid of a machine or device, it is under copyright protection. Unlike copyrights, patents are used to protect inventions and discoveries. Copyright can be used in lawsuits proving ownership of original works.