Cinema Law: Plagiarism or Idea Theft?

By Jennifer McGrath
URL: http://www.moviemaker.com/blog/item/cinema_law_plagiarism_and_idea_theft_20090428/
Q: What is the distinction between plagiarism and idea theft?

A: First of all, “plagiarism” is a term commonly used to describe the copying of someone's written work, but the term has largely disappeared from California law. What was once known as “plagiarism” now comes within the ambit of federal copyright infringement.