What is the term used to describe the theft of literary property?

The term that describes the theft of literary property is plagiarism. Plagiarism occurs when someone takes another person's words, ideas, or expressions and presents them as their own without proper attribution. This act undermines the original creator's rights and is considered unethical in both academic and professional contexts.

Plagiarism is particularly relevant for writers, scholars, and anyone involved in the creation of content, as it pertains directly to the integrity of their work. It signifies a lack of respect for authorship and intellectual property, drawing a clear line between what constitutes original work and appropriated ideas.

While other terms like infringement, copyright violation, and counterfeiting relate to aspects of intellectual property protection, they typically involve legal frameworks or unauthorized duplication of work rather than the act of directly presenting someone else's intellectual contributions as one’s own, which is the essential feature of plagiarism. This distinction is crucial for understanding the implications of stealing literary property.