What constitutes a civil tort or criminal offence in copyright law?

The correct answer highlights a fundamental principle in copyright law: the unauthorized copying of a substantial part of any work constitutes a violation of the copyright holder's exclusive rights. Copyright law is designed to protect the rights of creators by ensuring that they have control over how their works are used and reproduced. When someone copies a significant portion of a copyrighted work without permission, it is not only an infringement of copyright but can also give rise to civil tort claims or even criminal offenses, depending on the jurisdiction and the scale of the infringement.

This unauthorized act undermines the creator's ability to monetize their work and can lead to legal action for damages. Therefore, the emphasis on a "substantial part" is crucial, as minor use might sometimes fall under fair use or similar exceptions, but copying a significant portion typically does not.

The other choices do not meet the criteria for copyright infringement in the same way. For instance, improper citation of a source may violate ethical standards in academic or media contexts but does not necessarily constitute copyright infringement. Sharing a link to a copyrighted work does not typically infringe copyright unless you're facilitating access to the work in a way that violates the copyright holder's rights. Distributing copies without permission does represent a copyright violation but is more specific and can