Final answer:
Using copyrighted material without the owner's permission is known as copyright infringement. Copyright provides legal protection against unauthorized use of original creative works. Infringement violates the exclusive rights of the copyright owner.
Step-by-step explanation:
When any portion of a copyrighted material is used without the consent of the owner, this is called an infringement of copyright. Copyright is a legal protection that prevents unauthorized copying of original works of authorship for commercial purposes, such as books and music.
According to the U.S. Copyright Office, this protection covers a broad range of creative works, and it exists automatically from the moment the work is fixed in a tangible form that can be perceived, reproduced, or communicated. It spans the lifetime of the author plus an additional 70 years, ensuring that copyright owners have exclusive rights to their work during this period. Should these rights be violated through reproduction, display, or performance without permission, it constitutes copyright infringement, which can lead to legal penalties.