Copyright for Creators

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106(A), the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include — 

(1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

(3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and

(4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

The Center for Media & Social Impact has contributed to the creation of Codes of Best Practices for different communities of practice. These codes describe typical situations in which everyday people employ fair use in specific contexts, and can be very useful in determining how to apply fair use in your work.

There are myriad excellent resources available online to help you better understand Fair Use. A few of the best are highlighted below: