005: the copyright detective: plagiarism vs. inspiration (ks3)
Become a Copyright Detective in this interactive KS3 lesson. Investigate the boundary between creative inspiration and illegal plagiarism through real-world case studies in music, art, and gaming.
Operation: The Copycat Catchers
The Scenario
The "Bureau of Ethical Innovation" has hired you as a Junior Detective. They have a backlog of cases where creators have been accused of stealing ideas. A famous pop star claims a new song stole their beat. A game studio says a rival cloned their character design. Your job is to examine the evidence and issue a verdict.
The Persona: The Responsible Innovator
You are the conscience of the tech world. You don't just ask if something works; you ask if it is fair, legal, and ethical. You understand that protecting ideas is just as important as creating them.
The "Bureau of Ethical Innovation" has hired you as a Junior Detective. They have a backlog of cases where creators have been accused of stealing ideas. A famous pop star claims a new song stole their beat. A game studio says a rival cloned their character design. Your job is to examine the evidence and issue a verdict.
You are the conscience of the tech world. You don't just ask if something works; you ask if it is fair, legal, and ethical. You understand that protecting ideas is just as important as creating them.
1
Case Study 1: The Music Industry
Open your "Case File" (a new document or slide deck).
Search for one of the most famous copyright cases in history: Vanilla Ice vs Queen & David Bowie.
Listen to a snippet of "Ice Ice Baby" and "Under Pressure" (if headphones are available) or read about the similarities.
In your Case File, answer: Did Vanilla Ice steal the bassline? What was his defense? What was the legal outcome?
2
Case Study 2: The Clone Wars (Gaming)
Video games are often copied. Search for: PUBG vs Fortnite lawsuit OR Mobile Legends vs League of Legends.
Identify the "Plaintiff" (the one complaining) and the "Defendant" (the one accused).
Write a summary: Is the game a direct copy (plagiarism) or just the same genre (inspiration)?
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The Grey Area: Logo Design
Use an image search to find "famous logo rip offs".
Find two logos that look suspiciously similar. Paste them side-by-side in your document.
Add your "Detective's Notes" using arrows to point out the specific parts that were copied (e.g., shape, colour, font).
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The Verdict
Create a final section called "The Rules of Engagement".
Based on your research, write 3 clear rules for a digital creator to avoid being sued. Use terms like CopyrightI have no idea what this means, AttributionI have no idea what this means, and TransformativeI have no idea what this means.
Outcome
A "Case File" document containing evidence from Music, Gaming, and Design.
Clear definitions of the difference between Plagiarism and Inspiration.
A final set of guidelines for ethical creation.
Last modified: January 9th, 2026
