Fair Use probably isn't what you expect. Many people throw the term around without really understanding what it is, and how to apply it appropriately. In fact, every time you make a citation under fair use, the tests must be applied. It's definitely not a cut-and-dried definition, but there are some basic rules that we can apply to help us find our way.

Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act governs the rules for fair use. Application of these elements is like walking a tightrope, you have to be balanced or the fall might hurt you. These elements have undergone judicial review and have withstood the test of time. These elements are explained further in this tutorial.

Whether or not fair use applies to you is dependent on these four elements:

1) The Character and Purpose of the Use.

2) The Copyrighted Work and its Nature

3) How Much of the Original Work Did You Use

4) The Impact of the Use on the Value of the Original Work

DISCLAIMER: This should not be construed as legal advice. For any issues surrounding the use of copyrighted material, the appropriate legal authority (not me) should be consulted.



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techhound Premium Plus
Hey Mel, great coverage on the topic. A note of caution: people should not misconstrue this as legal advice and it should only be used as a means to be aware of the issues. Readers here should use this information at their own risk and not come back to you and say, "Well, Mel said it was okay to do this...", etc.

Best Regards,
Jim
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onmyownterms Premium
Good point, I'll amend the front page.
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bbqfirepit Premium
Very important to consider and incorporate. Most don't even think twice about doing it, and clearly it is not the right way. Thank you for clearing this up.
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dorina62 Premium
Good advice! Thanks for the training!The right to copy, copyright, it belongs to the author, copyright protects work and the efforts of the writer,artist, composer, etc.
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onmyownterms Premium
Agreed. Thanks for commenting.
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dorina62 Premium
You welcome!
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Debs3 Premium
Thank you, Mel!
:)
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onmyownterms Premium
You're welcome.
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theresroth Premium
Thank you, Mel, this is bookmarked!
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onmyownterms Premium
You're welcome.
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