How do I decide whether something is fair use?

Each application of fair use must be examined on a case-by-case basis, as there are no absolute rules about how much of a copyrighted work may be copied and still be considered a fair use.

To do a fair use analysis, you need to consider the four factors that U.S. Courts have provided as criteria.

These are:

the purpose and character of your use
the nature of the copyrighted work
the amount and substantiality of the portion taken
the effect of the use upon the potential market

Learn more

See the University of Arizona Fair Use Checklist.

See our tutorial:
Fair Use & Copyright in Instruction

Question and Answer

How do I decide whether something is fair use?

Each application of fair use must be examined on a case-by-case basis, as there are no absolute rules about how much of a copyrighted work may be copied and still be considered a fair use.

To do a fair use analysis, you need to consider the four factors that U.S. Courts have provided as criteria.

These are: