Merriam-Webster defines copyright as "the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (such as a literary, musical, or artistic work) .
"Copyright." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 27 October 2025. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copyright
Before you use any words, images, sounds, or moving images that you did not create yourself, it's important to determine the source of the work and its status under the Copyright Law of the United States, or the laws of the country in which it was created.
Here is information from the U.S. Copyright Office:
Copyright infringement and plagiarism are both improper usage of another person's work. Copyright infringement is illegal while plagiarism is unethical.
Federal copyright infringement penalties may be found in the Criminal Resource Manual. 1852. Copyright Infringement -- Penalties -- 17 U.S.C. 506(a) And 18 U.S.C 2319
According to the TLU Student Code of Conduct:
Plagiarism - includes, but is not limited to, the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials.
Violations of the TLU academic honesty policy will be reported and may have disciplinary consequences.
If you are in doubt about the usability of words, images, or sounds, consult your professor before turning in an assignment.
From the U.S. Copyright Office. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruV2qn7xyU0
From Common Sense Education. https://youtu.be/suMza6Q8J08?si=vfTWUooY_cq2uLjg