I'm not certain about the legality of what you want to do, but common sense dictates that if you can't read the document, then the copyright has not been violated.

Unfortunately, common sense doesn't always prevail. If possible, why not use a generic or non-copyrighted document to show your audience where to look?

If the formats are similar, you might be able to accomplish your goal and provide the necessary information to your reader without compromising your ideals.
Source(s):
personal intuition

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Technically yes it is illegal. In the UK you would be breaking the mechanical copyright protection laws, and breaching the copyright of the owner of the image that you are using.

However, the question is really about risk. What is the risk that the owner of the work will ask you to stop doing this? Are you doing them any actual damage or loss?

In tort law there has to be a 'wrong' i.e. some kind of pain, damage or other loss that is suffered by someone in order to be sued by them.

If it is blurred, and you are not claiming you wrote it, and are not using it in a defamatory context, then you aren't doing anyone any damage.

Providing you're not causing any loss or damage, the worst that they can do is ask you not to show it.

Best bet is to notify the owner of the work to let them know you intend to use it in this way and push the positive benefits of you doing so i.e. you will properly accredit it, and will in effect be promoting it.

If you don't get a reply, go ahead and use it. You've then covered yourself and given them an opportunity to object.
Source(s):
None. Just general knowledge of tort law having worked in the English Court of Appeal.

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If it is for a non-commercial academic use, then your reference likely falls under a "fair use" exemption in copyright. You are using it to reference the material itself rather than resell it commercially.
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On its face, the image would likely be a derivative work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work

One would need the original work's author's permission to make the derivative work (otherwise, the derivative is an infringement).

Whether you could argue that the image was a fair use (discussed in the above wikipedia link) or whether another defense is available would depend upon the facts.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work

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If you are using it solely for education, then you should be fine. As per 17 U.S.C. 107, copyrighted materials have a "teaching" exception. To qualify, four factors must be addressed
1. Purpose and character of use, including whether this is commercial or non-profit.
2. Nature of copyrighted work.
3. Amount and substantiality of the portion use in relation to the whole copyrighted work.
4. The effect of the use on the potential market.

If you are solely using this for education, you should be fine. However I would still recommend you contact an IP attorney in your state or region to double check
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