Copying Digital Content in the US: Law and Fair Use

Copying digital content in the US is prohibited by copyright law. However, there are some important exceptions, such as the fair use doctrine and specific provisions within the law. Only use the content for ducational purpose, reviewing purpose. Always give credit to the creators of the content. In this way you can avoid from legal actions.

General Rule:

·       Copyright protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, as well as films, sound recordings, and architectural works. This protection extends to digital copies of these works.

·       Copying copyrighted material without permission is considered infringement and can result in civil and even criminal penalties.

Fair Use:

·       The fair use doctrine allows for limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

• ·     Whether a particular use is considered fair use depends on a four-factor test:
• o   the purpose and character of the use;
• o   the nature of the copyrighted work;
• o   the amount and substantiality of the portion used; and
• o   the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Other Exceptions:

·       The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) provides safe harbors for online service providers that remove infringing content promptly when notified by the copyright owner.

·       Section 107 of the Copyright Act allows libraries and archives to make copies of copyrighted works under certain conditions.

·       Section 1201 of the Copyright Act allows individuals to make copies of copyrighted music for personal use, such as making a backup copy of a CD.