Trinity International University students, faculty, and staff are expected to comply with the Copyright Law of the United States, which governs the reproduction, distribution, adaptation, public performance, and public display of copyrighted material. The U.S. Copyright Office provides a useful information guide.

The following is a reprint of the entire text of section 107 of title 17, United States Code as amended in 1990 and 1992.

Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Fair Use

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106a, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include —

1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors.

The Collins Library at the University of Puget Sound provides a helpful infographic to help determine whether claims of Fair Use are justified. Click the image for a PDF version.