I don't use the messenger that came with the the phone. I use Handcent's Next SMS and I can copy & paste. However, when I opened the Verizon text app, I cannot copy. I cannot test the stock texting app because I won't give it authorizations it wants.. Handcent allows things that others don't. It compresses video to overcome size restrictions, schedule sending messages, different alerts for different people, different themes and all sorts of customizations.