LibGuides: Copyright Basics: Fair Use Doctrine

What is the Fair Use Doctrine?

Fair Use Doctrine
Additional Resources

Watch this video from the U.S. Copyright Office to learn more about Fair Use.

Fair Use allows users to use a percentage of a copyrighted works for specific purposes. These purposes can include educational, non-commercial, or transformative uses. There are four factors that use must meet to be considered Fair Use. These include:

Fair Use

For help determining if your use of copyrighted materials is Fair Use, use the USF Fair Use Checklist or go the Fair Use Evaluator. To see whether you can use any copyright material, ask yourself these questions:

Can I use it?

Fair Use

Copyright & Fair Use
Stanford Library's guide to Fair Use.
Copyright Basics (PDF)
U.S. Copyright Office's circular that provides an overview of basic facts about copyright and copyright registration with the U.S. Copyright Office.
Copyright Clearance Center
Organization that helps organizations integrate, access, and share information through licensing, content, software, and professional services
Copyright Genie
Interactive service that helps users know if works are covered by copyright.
Copyright Term and the Public Domain in the United States
Cornell University's Copyright Information Center information on copyright length for materials.
Fair Use Evaluator
Interactive tool that helps determine and evaluate if Fair Use is relevant.
Measuring Fair Use: The Four Factors
Stanford Library's guide to Fair Use.
More Information on Fair Use
The U.S. Copyright Office's information on copyright and Fair Use.
U.S. Copyright Office
Government office devoted to promoting creativity and free expression by administering the nation’s copyright laws and by providing impartial, expert advice on copyright law and policy for the benefit of all.