Fair Use
A US legal doctrine that permits limited quotation of copyrighted material without permission.
Fair use is a doctrine in United States copyright law that permits the limited use of copyrighted material without the rights-holder's permission, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.
The doctrine is governed by a four-factor test: the purpose and character of the use (commercial vs educational; transformative vs derivative); the nature of the copyrighted work; the amount used relative to the whole; and the effect on the market for the original.
Quoting a few lines of a copyrighted poem in an essay almost always falls under fair use. Quoting the same poem in full on a t-shirt almost certainly does not. Outside the US, the equivalent doctrines (fair dealing in the UK, Canada, and Australia) are typically narrower and more enumerated.
“"Four score and seven years ago…" (Lincoln, Gettysburg, 1863).”
Keep reading the glossary
Quotations whose copyright has expired — free to reuse without permission.
A formal reference that lets a reader locate the source of a quote.
The convention of citing only the author's name when quoting in casual writing.
An adjective describing a phrase, person, or work that lends itself naturally to being quoted.