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Copyright & Music

A Fair(ly) Use Tale

Created by Prof. Eric Faden, Bucknell University, this video is a clever introduction to copyright and fair use. It's licensed under a Creative Commons license.

What Is Fair Use?

"Fair Use" allows the use of copyrighted materials under certain circumstances. Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright law reads as follows:

§107 Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, 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 commerical nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;

(2) the nature of the copyrighted work;

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The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors. 

 

US Copyright Office Fair Use Cases

Copyright & Fair Use Guides from Universities & Professional Organizations