Editing Copynorms (section)

== Social rules ==
Copynorms are informal [[social rules]].  Social norms include rules of etiquette as well as moral norms (such as the moral prohibitions on theft or murder) and quasi-moral norms (such as the social rules that create zones of privacy in public places).  Copynorms are simply the informal social norms that determine the social acceptability of copying works created by others.  Social norms are enforced by informal social sanctions, ranging from simple expressions of disapproval (mild) to shunning or vandalism (severe).

Copyright law and copynorms are interrelated but distinct.  Some copying that is not prohibited by copyright law violates copynorms—[[plagiarism]] of work in the [[public domain]] would be an example.  More significant to copyright theory and policy, copying that is prohibited by law may be considered socially acceptable.