Epilogue

The problem of defining plagiarism is compared to the problem of defining emotions: both concepts have core features about which everyone can agree, but both also consist of problematic cases that are more controversial. Whereas wholesale copying is universally seen as unethical, the phenomenon of insufficient attribution is viewed as a lesser sin, and it should probably be given a different name. The cultural shifts from homage to infringement that played out in the West are compared to a similar dynamic that occurred in Japan. The ubiquity and the weaponization of plagiarism are revisited, and the consequences of appropriation for the plagiarist, the victim, and the accuser are reviewed. It is suggested that some people’s contributions to culture or human rights can transcend episodes of plagiarism. The development of new content outlets, such as self-publishing with Amazon and social media videos, has exacerbated the problem of plagiarism. And a culture that is becoming increasingly comfortable with getting content for free also seems to be increasingly tolerant of appropriation.