What is the copyright fair-use doctrine?

The copyright fair-use doctrine is a legal principle that allows people to use copyrighted materials without permission from the copyright holder. This doctrine is based on the idea that certain uses of copyrighted material can be considered “fair use” and therefore not infringement of copyright law. In California, the fair-use doctrine applies to certain educational and personal uses of copyrighted materials. For example, under the fair-use doctrine, a teacher can make copies of a short book excerpt to be used class materials. Furthermore, a student can make a copy of a book excerpt for their own study, or use a snippet of copyrighted material in their own work, as long as it is not substantial. However, if the unauthorized use of copyrighted material is commercial in nature, or it unfairly harms the copyright holder, it is not considered “fair use”. It is important to note that the fair-use doctrine is one of many exceptions to copyright law and that it should be used with caution. As copyright law is a complex area of legal practice, it is wise to seek professional advice if you are considering using copyrighted material without permission.

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What is the copyright fair-use doctrine?

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