What is fair use?

Fair use is a legal concept that allows people to use copyrighted material in a limited way without seeking permission from the copyright holder. This concept is important because it helps to promote creativity and encourages people to share ideas and information. Under the Minnesota Copyright Act, fair use is allowed for the purpose of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. In order for an individual’s use of copyrighted material to be considered fair use, it must meet four criteria. The material must be used for a limited purpose, such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. The nature of the use must also be noncommercial; that is, it must be done without any expectation of making a profit. Also, the material used must not be the primary source of income for the person using it, nor must it overly interfere with the copyright holder’s ability to make money from their work. Finally, the amount of the material used must be limited; that is, only as much of the material as is necessary for the purpose should be used. By adhering to these four criteria, individuals can help ensure their use of copyrighted material is considered fair use under the Minnesota Copyright Act. This concept helps to encourage creativity and information sharing by allowing people to use copyrighted material in a limited way without obtaining permission from the copyright holder.

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What is fair use?

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