A creator of a publication is the owner of the ideas it contains. He owns the intellectual property and the right to distribute those ideas: copyright.
Copyright is the right of the creator of a work of literature, science or art to determine how, where and when his work is published or reproduced.
(Source: Wikipedia, April 11, 2011)
What is allowed? What is not allowed?
You must respect the rights of the creator. So if you want to use someone else's ideas, you must have permission to do so.
But you don't always have to ask permission. Sometimes you automatically have permission if you clearly state whose thought or idea it is. For example:
You may use short passages from other texts in your own text: quoting.
You may retell short passages from other texts in your own words and use them in your own text: paraphrasing.
Images
Notice! Copyright also applies to images. You may not just use images of others. To use images you also need the permission of the creator. And you must mention the source.
Sanctions
If you violate someone else's copyright, for example by not citing sources, you run the risk of having your report rejected.
If you pretend to have thought of something yourself when it is someone else's text, you are committing plagiarism. This is punishable. Again, you can expect sanctions. See also plagiarism.
Your own copyright?
If you have published your own text, you own the copyright. Others may use your text, but only under certain conditions.
A comprehensive website with information about copyright in higher education can be found here: SURFdirect.
Nice to know: CC - Creative Commons
Many authors choose to release their copyright: anyone may use the material without asking permission. This form of information sharing is known as Creative Commons.
However, there are usually conditions attached. For example, in most cases you still have to mention the source, depending on the license the creator has chosen.
See further Creative Commons.
Portrait rights
If you use images that depict people recognizably, you have to deal with portrait rights:
"Portrait law gives individuals the right to oppose publication of their portrait."
(Source: Wikipedia, April 13, 2011)
This includes images in all forms: photographs, drawings, paintings, but also film footage.
So you have to ask permission from the person depicted before you can use the picture.
Rights (and obligations) of authors
A comprehensive website with information on copyright in higher education can be found here: SURFdirect. LOOPT DOOD