CPW Writing Ethics and Copyright 2

Question 1

A freelance writer copies three sentences verbatim from a published article without attribution and includes them in a client deliverable. This is best described as:

Accepted Answer

Plagiarism

Answer

Copying verbatim text without attribution constitutes plagiarism, regardless of the source being publicly available.

Question 2

Under US copyright law, which element is NOT required for a work to receive copyright protection?

Accepted Answer

Registration with the Copyright Office

Answer

Copyright protection attaches automatically upon creation and fixation; registration is not required but provides legal benefits.

Question 3

A technical writer is asked by their employer to omit safety warnings from a user manual to save space. The ethical response is to:

Accepted Answer

Refuse and document the request, citing reader safety obligations

Answer

Professional writers have an ethical obligation to readers' safety that supersedes client convenience, and documenting the request protects the writer.

Question 4

The doctrine of 'work made for hire' means that:

Accepted Answer

The employer or commissioning party owns the copyright

Answer

Under work-for-hire doctrine, the employer or commissioning party is considered the legal author and owns all copyrights.

Question 5

Which of the following best defines 'transformative use' in copyright fair use analysis?

Accepted Answer

Adding new meaning, expression, or message beyond the original

Answer

Transformative use adds new expression or meaning to the original and is a significant factor courts weigh in fair use determinations.

(CPW) Certified Professional Writer Practice Test

(CPW) Certified Professional Writer Practice Test

CPW Writing Ethics and Copyright 2