Glossary · Intellectual Property
Fair Use
fair-use-1c230b12b22f9fb4-2026-07-28
- Type
- Glossary
- Jurisdiction
- National
- Date
- 2026-07-28
- Topic
- Intellectual Property
A defense to copyright infringement that permits limited use of protected works for purposes like criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. Courts weigh four factors: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the work, the amount taken, and the effect on the market for the original. Transformative uses that add new meaning or purpose are the most likely to qualify.
Definition
A defense to copyright infringement that permits limited use of protected works for purposes like criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. Courts weigh four factors: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the work, the amount taken, and the effect on the market for the original. Transformative uses that add new meaning or purpose are the most likely to qualify.
Fair Use. A defense to copyright infringement that permits limited use of protected works for purposes like criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. Courts weigh four factors: the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the work, the amount taken, and the effect on the market for the original. Transformative uses that add new meaning or purpose are the most likely to qualify. Example: Quoting three paragraphs of the novel in a critical review was a classic fair use.