Fair use facts for kids
Fair use is a special rule that lets people use parts of someone else's creative work without asking for permission. This is allowed for certain reasons and in small amounts, without breaking the law.
Most countries have rules about who owns creative things like art, stories, books, TV shows, and pictures. The person who first makes these things usually owns them. This ownership is called a copyright. A copyright means the creator can decide who can copy or use their work. If someone copies the work without asking, they are breaking the law. The owner can then go to court to protect their rights.
Why We Have Fair Use
People often want to talk about popular books, movies, or songs. Sometimes, they might want to show a small part of the work when they are discussing it on TV or in a book. The idea of "fair use" was added to copyright laws to make this possible. It allows people to use a little bit of someone's work for things like:
- Teaching others
- Reporting news
- Giving a review or opinion
- Making a parody (a funny imitation)
This rule helps people share ideas and learn from each other, while still respecting the original creator's rights.
Fair Use in the Digital World
Today, a lot of creative work is found on computers and the Internet. It's very easy to copy things and share them with many people quickly. To help stop people from copying too much, some creators use special computer programs. These are called digital rights management (DRM) tools.
The problem is that these programs can sometimes stop you from copying even a small part of a work. This means you might not be able to use "fair use" without finding a way around the program. In some places, trying to get around these programs can also be against the law. This makes it tricky to balance protecting creators and allowing fair use in the digital age.
Images for kids
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Joseph Story wrote the opinion in Folsom v. Marsh.
See also
In Spanish: Uso justo para niños
