Any works which are digitized are copied. What is still unclear is whether copyright infringement extends to subsequent copies of the original posting of the message being forwarded to other lists. Copyright infringement only exists if someone claims the work of another as their own . Many people confuse copyright and plagiarism. A work does not have to be copyrighted to be plagiarized.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another's work to claim it as one's own.
He is also guilty of copyright infringement because he made a copy of the letter. Now, if John Doe wrote the letter in 1700, then it no longer enjoys copyright protection, so Joe Dokes is not guilty of copyright infringement, but he is still guilty of plagiarism. Copyright infringement only exists if the violation harms the copyright holder or is done for profit . When courts endeavor to determine damage awards in cases of copyright infringement, they may consider how much economic damage was done. But economic damage does not have to be done for the copyright infringer to be ordered to pay damages.