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As a member
of today's active information-producing society, you have a social
responsibility to use information ethically and legally. Imagine
spending hours, weeks, even years writing a book, an article, or taking
the perfect photograph. Now imagine someone else taking credit for
your hard work. Think it's not a big deal? Think again!
Some examples of academic dishonesty as defined at academic institutions
include:
-
Copying from sources without giving
proper documentation
-
Buying a pre-written paper (on the
Internet, by mail, or in person!)
-
Having someone else write your paper
-
Paying someone to write your paper
-
Submitting someone else's work as your
own, either with or without permission
-
Cheating on a quiz or exam
-
Fabrication or falsification of a
citation
If you are confused about
whether or not you need to cite a resource, or how to properly document
it - ASK! You must also have permission to use many images, cartoons and
other media found on the Internet or in print resources.
The concept of
intellectual property is sometimes a difficult one to understand. The
thought that ideas can be "owned" or "trademarked" may seem strange.
Below are a few definitions from
Merriam Webster's Online
Dictionary
to help clarify things:
Intellectual
Property:
Patents, copyrights and trademarks, as well as trade
secrets are often referred to collectively as "intellectual
property".
Patent:
1. An official document conferring a right or privilege
2. a: A writing securing to an inventor for a term of years the
exclusive right to make,
use, or sell an invention b: the monopoly or right so granted c: a
patented invention
3. Privilege, license
Trademark:
1. A device (as a word) pointing distinctly to the origin or
ownership of merchandise
to which it is applied and legally reserved to the exclusive use of
the owner as maker
or seller
2. A distinguishing characteristic or feature firmly associated with
a person or thing
<derringers... became almost a trademark of gamblers -- Elmer Keith>
<wearing his
trademark bow tie and derby hat>
Copyright:
The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, and sell the matter
and form
(as of a
literary, musical, or artistic work). |
