What are copyright laws?
The copyright laws are set in place by the United States government in order to protect authors' works. These include literary, artistic, theater, musical, and many other types of works. The laws prevents anyone other than copyright holders, such as authors or publishers, from reproducing these works.
Why do I need to know about copyright laws?
Whether intentional or unintentional, the penalties for breaking copyright laws could include large fines or even jail time. If you unintentionally break these laws, it is called infringement. Plagiarism is the intentional use of another's work illegally. Both infringement and plagiarism are punishable by law. In order to protect yourself, you must be informed about the proper use of materials.