Fair use is a legal concept which allows copyrighted work to be published in a different context without first getting the copyright holder's permission. In the United States, the fair-use law applies to all copyrighted work, regardless of medium, format or publication status. Fair-use and copyright law vary by country.US Copyright Office: Fair Use
Guidelines
Fair use is determined on a case-by-case basis, per guidelines written into 17 USC ยง 107, or "Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Fair Use." The law outlines several key factors to be considered when determining if copying complies with fair use:Cornell University: Copyright law: Fair use
- The purpose and character of the use;
- The nature of the use;
- The proportion used as it relates to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
- The effect of such use on the potential market-value of the copyrighted work.
References
Fast Facts
-
Fact:
The fair-use doctrine addresses literary, artistic, and audio/visual media.Cornell University: Copyright law: Fair use
-
Fact:
The fair-use doctrine was formally adopted as part of U.S. copyright law in 1976.US Copyright Office: Title 17
-
Fact:
The most common applications of the fair-use doctrine include teaching in the classroom, reviewing or critiquing a work, and reporting on a news event.Cornell University: Copyright law: Fair use
-
Fact:
Individuals are generally not liable for copyright infringement if, in good faith, they believe that their uses comply with the fair-use doctrine.University of Texas library: Copyright Crash CourseCornell University: Copyright Law: Remedies for infringement
