fair use

American  

[fair yoos] / ˈfɛər ˈjus /

noun

1. reasonable and limited use of copyrighted material so as not to infringe upon copyright.

   The artist's biographer claimed fair use of quotes from unpublished personal letters.

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Etymology

Origin of fair use

First recorded in 1840–45

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fair use

“Runa Simi” is allowed to screen commercially in the U.S. thanks to the fair use doctrine, which grants the filmmakers permission to use images from “The Lion King,” a copyrighted work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 10, 2026

Ivy Deng, who is doing a master's degree in painting at the Royal College of Art, said: "In terms of regulations, I don't feel protected about the fair use of my art."

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

The tech companies say their actions constituted fair use.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026

The UMG and Sony litigation is ongoing, with a fair use hearing set for Massachusetts federal court and the labels seeking to expand their complaint.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Parody The general principles as to infringement and fair use, treated fully in another chapter, apply to dramatic and musical compositions, as already illustrated above, but some special applications may here be noted.

From Copyright: Its History and Its Law by Richard Rogers Bowker

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