The doctrine of Fair Use can identify an exception to copyright. "Fair Use" is a standard created by case law an interpreted in U.S. courts. It weights four factors, and the decision of whether something is considered a “Fair use” is a judgment call. An Educational use is just one of those four factors.
The Four Factors
A table with brief description of each of the four factors of The Fair Use Doctrine
Purpose and character of the use |
Nonprofit educational purposes more likely fair use
than commercial educational purposes
|
Nature of the copyrighted work |
Factual works more likely fair use than creative works |
Amount and significance used relative to the entire work |
Smaller portions more likely fair use than larger
portions
|
Impact on potential market for the work |
Little or no market impact more likely fair use than
uses which interfere with potential markets |
Answered By: Sara Davidson Squibb
Last Updated: Jul 28, 2025 Views: 96