Copyright and Fair Use: What do you need to know?
The best place to start learning about what is and isn't allowed when using images you found online is with copyrights. According to the U.S. Copyright Office, copyright protects both published and unpublished works including books, music, poetry, art, and other forms. It is given automatically when the work is created, and it does not have to be registered to apply, though a creator does have to register their work if they want to pursue legal action.
One thing to consider about copyright is that it does expire. Creations with expired copyrights, or that were created before copyright laws existed, are usually within the realm of public domain and can be used more freely. There are also Creative Commons licenses which are copyright licenses that allow creators to choose specific conditions for using their works.
Fair Use is a legal doctrine that allows for limited use of images without obtaining permission first. Columbia University does a great job of breaking down and explaining the factors involved with determining Fair Use.
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| More likely Fair Use | Less likely Fair Use |
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