What is the use of another person's work without permission called?

The use of another person's work without permission is termed copyright infringement. This concept arises from the legal protections afforded to original works of authorship, which include literary, artistic, musical, and other creative endeavors. Copyright gives the creator exclusive rights to their work, allowing them to control how it is used, reproduced, and distributed.

When someone uses a copyrighted work without obtaining authorization from the copyright holder, they are infringing on those exclusive rights, which can lead to legal penalties. It's important to understand that copyright infringement does not require the infringer to have intended to violate copyright law—simply using the work without permission is enough to constitute infringement.

The other terms do relate to similar issues but have different legal definitions and implications. Plagiarism refers to the ethical issue of presenting someone else's ideas or expressions as your own, regardless of whether it involves copyright violations. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission under specific circumstances, such as for criticism or education, while misappropriation typically deals with the unauthorized use of someone else's proprietary information or trade secrets. Hence, copyright infringement accurately describes the act of using another person's work without permission.