About Fair Use
Copyright is murky, but there is some guidance and flexbility. The Copyright Law contains a provision called Fair Use (Section 107). The Fair Use factors assist you in determining what is allowed.
- The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes.
- The nature of the copyrighted work.
- The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole.
- The effect of the use upon the potential market for, or value of, the copyrighted work.
The Fair Use factors must be considered together; no single factor trumps the other.
Fair Use Resources
- Understanding Fair UseA step-by-step analysis of the Fair Use factors. From the University of Minnesota Libraries.
- Thinking Through Fair UseProvides a checklist. From the University of Minnesota Libraries.
- Fair Use ChecklistAnother checklist to see if you are within the bounds of Copyright Law. From Columbia University.
- Fair Use EvaluatorBrought to you by the American Library Association (ALA), the Fair Use Evaluator is a tool intended as a first step in helping librarians, educators, and others better understand how to make fair use determinations. This tool is not a source of legal advice or assistance.