Fair Use Analysis Tool
Several good Fair Use checklists or analytical tools are available online. We encourage use of these tools when considering whether an intended use of a copyrighted work may be more or less likely to be considered a fair use of that resource under U.S. copyright law (Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act). These tools are also helpful in keeping records of how you arrived at a particular decision.
Fair Use Checklist
The Columbia Fair Use Checklist is a widely-used and straightforward tool to help educators, librarians, and others make a fair use determination on the use of a copyrighted work.
Fair Use Evaluator
The Fair Use Evaluator is an interactive tool that takes you step-by-step through the factors of fair use and offers a possible determination on this use based upon your responses. The resource provides you with a time-stamped .pdf document to assist with record-keeping.
Exceptions for Instructors eTools
The U.S. Copyright Code provides for the educational use of copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright holder under certain conditions. To find out if your intended use meets the requirements set out in the law, use this free, online tool. It provides you with a PDF summary.
