Copyright and Fair Use: Home

Copyright and Fair Use: A Library Guide

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on copyright and fair use! This resource is designed to help you navigate the complex world of intellectual property rights, ensuring you understand how to use and share creative works legally and ethically.

What is Copyright? Copyright is a legal framework that grants creators exclusive rights to their original works, including literature, music, art, and more. These rights allow creators to control how their works are used, distributed, and reproduced.

Understanding Fair Use Fair use is a crucial exception to copyright law that permits limited use of copyrighted material without the need for permission from the rights holder. This guide will help you understand the four key factors that determine fair use:

1. Purpose and Character of Use: Is the use transformative, educational, or commercial?
2. Nature of the Copyrighted Work: Is the work factual or creative?
3. Amount and Substantiality: How much of the work is being used?
4. Effect on the Market: Does the use impact the market value of the original work?

Why It Matters Understanding copyright and fair use is essential for students, educators, researchers, and creators. This guide provides practical tips and examples to help you make informed decisions about using copyrighted materials in your projects and publications.

Additional Resources Explore our curated list of articles, videos, and tools to deepen your knowledge and stay up-to-date with the latest developments in copyright law.