Is this copywriting?

Question

We have an assignment to translate a scene from Romeo and Juliet. If I use No Fear Shakespear but take out and add a few words, can I get in trouble for copywritting? Thanks

Ok...the only thing is, its not a paper, you see we have to get in front of the class and just basically say how we changed it to contemporary language. So i didnt kno if that would still be considered or not.

Answer 1

Short answer -- you could indeed get in trouble.

1) Be careful not to mix up your terms
"copywriting" and "copyrighting" are BOTH real words, but they have very different meanings.

"copywriting" = the writing of "copy" that is, text, esp. used to refer to the writing of publicity material
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/copywriter

"copyrighting" = the establishing of a "copyright", that is the right to copy, publish and distribute it. This ordinarily belongs to the CREATOR of a creative work -- text, music, etc.-- or whoever employed/paid them to write it, or whoever that person(s) assigned it to (e;.g. a publisher)

Doubtless you had the FIRST in mind.

2) Of course, what you're worried about in your case is not 'copyrighing' but possibly VIOLATING someone ELSE'S copyright, or "copyright infringement"

3) What you describe is not exactly a case of copyright infringement. That would mean something like your publishing or distributing someone else's work without authorization, whether you claimed it was your own work or not (though not giving proper credit is one common form of copyright infringement)

As others have noted, your real concern is with PLAGIARISM that is "the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work."
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/plagiarism

Note the words "CLOSE IMITATION", in the definition. Clearly, this would include the sort of use you describe.
(Also note that I CREDITED my source for this definition!)

Ordinarily, it would be perfectly fine for you to read aloud, or write in a paper, small portions of things written by others, so long as you gave them proper CREDIT. Not to do so is not necessarily a violation of the LAW (though in some settings it could be, esp. if you publish something), but it is certainly an ETHICAL breach.

So to the question, 'can I get in trouble for this?' the answer is 'Yes.' Though I would not expect the police to come after you, your teachers would be will within their rights to give you a failing grade if they discovered you had done so.

Answer 2

No, that's not copywriting, that's called plagiarism. Also known as cheating. And be warned, a lot of teachers nowadays use computer programs to track papers online and check for plagiarism, and if you are caught, they will flunk you.

Answer 3

justras is probably right if some over paid under qualified teacher doesn't like the color of your hair then just any excuse for disqualifying you will do .Long ago ,as a kid you were not allowed to count on your fingers,later when calculators were invented they were pronounced 'verboten',so computers would naturally be outlawed if made schoolwork easier.

Answer 4

Shakespeare has been out of copyright for Centuries!

Answer 5

Probably not since you are supposed to change it.

Answer 6

That would be considered plagiarism