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Copyright

Just because it is on the Internet doesn't mean it is free to use.

Using Copyrighted Works

https://libguides.tlu.edu/Copyright/PublicIf you're thinking about using a creative work (words, images, music, videos) or a portion of it, consider these questions.

  1. Is the work still protected by copyright? Or, has it fallen into the Public Domain?
  2. Will your use touch on one of the copyright holder’s exclusive rights? For example, copying a protected part of the work, performing it publicly, or creating something new, like a sequel or adaptation.

If both answers are “yes,” you’ll need to either find an exception that allows you to use it without permission or get permission directly from the copyright holder. 

Fair Use

Fair use is a legal exemption to the exclusive rights of copyright holders. It is determined on a case-by-case basis and is based on a consideration of the following four factors:

  • The purpose and character of the use (including whether it is transformative, commercial, non-profit, or educational)
  • The nature of the copyrighted work
  • The amount and substantiality of the portion to be used
  • The effect upon the potential market for the copyrighted work

Because intention is a part of the consideration, only the user can make the initial assessment of whether their use is fair. We strongly recommend that you retain records for all Fair Use considerations you make.

Fair use rules do not state a concrete maximum of usable material (not a number of words, or a length of time, or a percent of total). Fair use also does not mean that TLU users can use/distribute any copyright material they want simply because TLU is an educational non-profit. We are bound by copyright law too!

There is a lot of subtlety in Fair Use interpretations, for more information see the Copyright Office’s Information on Fair Use, and Case Index.   

Video on Fair Use - Univ. of Illinois Library

Thanks to Cornell University Library

Most of the information on these copyright pages are reused from Cornell University. https://guides.library.cornell.edu/copyright/copyright-101

Creative Commons License
Cornell University Library's Copyright Services LibGuide is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.