A method and system for persistently linking sources to text copied from the sources. A first electronic document and first text appearing in the first electronic document are displayed. Selected text and an address of a source electronic document that includes the selected text are obtained from a web page differing from the first electronic document. A temporary computer object is generated to include: a header, the obtained address of the source electronic document in the header, and the obtained selected text. The header includes an identifier of the temporary computer object and an attribute pertaining to the address of the source electronic document. The selected text in the temporary computer object is persistently linked with the source electronic document via the address of the source electronic document in the temporary computer object. The temporary computer object is stored in the first electronic document after the first text.