"Be ORIGINAL and don't PLAGIARIZE"
PLAGIARISM is the "wrongful appropriation" and "stealing ang publication of another author's language, thoughts, ideas, or expression" and the presentation of them as one's own.
PLAGIARISM is not in itself a crime but can constitute copyright infringement. In academia and industry it is a serious ethical offense.
PLAGIARISM and copyright infringement overlap to a considerable extent but they are not equivalent concepts, and many types of plagiarism do not constitute copyright law and maybe adjudicated by courts. PLAGIARISM is not defined or punished by laws, but rather by institution including professional associations, educational institution, and commercial entities such as publishing companies.
-WIKIPEDIA
