Plagiarism and piracy: A publisher's perspective

Abstract

Examples of 'plagiarism' and 'piracy' are explored in the context of copyright legislation, and the practical role of 'fair dealing' is examined. The article shows how a tension exists at the heart of copyright: that between the 'right of protection' and the 'right of communication'. It argues that this tension produces a business dynamic which publishers can exploit to their advantage and which means that piracy (even, and perhaps especially, in the electronic realm) can be regarded more as an opportunity than as a threat.