Which of the following can be considered a copyright infringement?

Which of the following can be considered a copyright infringement?

• A. Using an idea without permission
• B. Lifting verbatim quotes from an original report
• C. Expressing facts in a unique format
• D. Re-writing a news story using common information

Answer: (B)

Lifting verbatim quotes from an original report constitutes copyright infringement because it involves copying a specific expression of ideas—words and phrases—without permission from the original creator. Copyright law protects the original expression of ideas, rather than the ideas themselves. Therefore, when someone takes an exact passage from a work without proper attribution or permission, it violates the exclusive rights of the copyright holder. In contrast, using an idea without permission does not infringe copyright, as copyright does not protect mere ideas or concepts, but rather the specific expression of those ideas. Similarly, expressing facts in a unique format might qualify for protection if the format is sufficiently original and creative, but the underlying facts themselves cannot be copyrighted. Re-writing a news story using common information typically is not considered infringement as long as the new content reflects original expression rather than duplication of the original wording.

Lifting verbatim quotes from an original report constitutes copyright infringement because it involves copying a specific expression of ideas—words and phrases—without permission from the original creator. Copyright law protects the original expression of ideas, rather than the ideas themselves. Therefore, when someone takes an exact passage from a work without proper attribution or permission, it violates the exclusive rights of the copyright holder.

In contrast, using an idea without permission does not infringe copyright, as copyright does not protect mere ideas or concepts, but rather the specific expression of those ideas. Similarly, expressing facts in a unique format might qualify for protection if the format is sufficiently original and creative, but the underlying facts themselves cannot be copyrighted. Re-writing a news story using common information typically is not considered infringement as long as the new content reflects original expression rather than duplication of the original wording.