Can I use copyrighted material as long as I give credit?
In Florida, the answer to this question is no. Copyright Law is a form of intellectual property law that gives the creator of an original work, such as music, literature, or art, the exclusive right to copy, distribute, and use the work. This means that other people may not use the work without the creator’s permission. Even if you give credit to the creator, using their work without their permission is still infringing on their copyright. To use copyrighted material without permission you must first obtain a license from the copyright holder. If you cannot get a license, there are certain limited exceptions to copyright infringement that may be applicable. One such exception is “fair use,” which allows use of copyrighted material without permission for certain purposes, such as commentary or criticism, if the use does not diminish the market value of the original work. You may also be able to use certain copyrighted works without permission due to “public domain” status, meaning the copyright has expired. However, if you do not meet one of the exceptions to copyright infringement, you may be subject to criminal or civil penalties. Therefore, it is safest to obtain permission from the copyright holder before using any copyrighted materials.
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