What does the fair use provision in the federal Copyright Act allow?

The fair use provision in the federal Copyright Act allows for the limited use of copyrighted materials without needing to obtain permission from the copyright holder, especially for purposes such as education and research. This provision is particularly relevant in academic settings, where educators and students often need to incorporate various media into their lessons and projects to support learning without infringing on copyright laws.

Fair use is determined by factors that include the purpose and character of the use (nonprofit educational use is favored), the nature of the copyrighted work (published works are often easier to use), the amount of the work used in relation to the whole, and the effect of the use on the market for the original work. As a result, this framework supports educational uses that promote learning and scholarship, enabling students and educators to utilize materials for their intended purposes while respecting the rights of creators to some extent.