Did you know? The images and other media you find online are most likely protected by copyright, regardless of whether any copyright statement is displayed. Copyright protection applies instantly and automatically when a new work is created; no copyright notice or registration is required!
Learn more about using images legally from this guide: Using Images: Copyright Guidelines for the Use of Images in Education
What is fair use?
Fair use is a limitation on the copyright holder's exclusive rights and provides that some uses of copyrighted materials do not infringe copyright. A finding of fair use is determined through the analysis and application of the four fair use factors:
How do I know if my intended use is within the limits of fair use?
Conduct a fair use analysis to weigh the four factors for your use. These resources can help frame your analysis:
Questions about Fair Use?
Contact Copyright Services at 614-688-5849 or libcopyright@osu.edu.
There are several important copyright considerations to keep in mind regarding your thesis or dissertation. This guide introduces the key concepts and includes links to help you learn more. It is highly recommended that you read the following guide as soon as possible during your research and writing process:
Read: Copyright in Your Thesis or Dissertation
Managing your rights
Using copyrighted material
What is fair use? Fair use is a limitation on the copyright holder's exclusive rights and provides that some uses of copyrighted materials do not infringe copyright. You can evaluate whether fair use may apply to your situation through the analysis and application of the four fair use factors.
Is my use a fair use? You may be able to rely on fair use when reproducing copyrighted material in your thesis or dissertation, but you cannot assume that all such uses are automatically fair use. You must conduct a fair use analysis for each individual use of copyrighted material in your thesis or dissertation.
Use the following resources to learn about fair use and conducting a fair use analysis:
What is NOT fair use? Fair use depends on a fact-specific evaluation of all four factors. There is no single criterion that automatically determines whether or not a particular use is fair use. However, some criteria that may significantly weaken your argument for fair use of copyrighted material in your thesis or dissertation are:
You may choose to address weaknesses in your fair use argument by making changes to your use, such as using a smaller amount of the copyrighted material. You may also choose to seek permission for your use of the material, to reference the material without reproducing it, or to seek an alternative to the material you originally considered using.
You need to request permission to reproduce third party material in your thesis or dissertation under the following circumstances:
The permissions process can take a significant amount of time. Do not wait until the last minute! Consider whether you will need permission to reproduce the material(s) you want to use in your manuscript, and give yourself sufficient time to locate and contact the copyright owner(s).
Contact Copyright Services for assistance:
Call: 614-688-5849
Email: libcopyright@osu.edu
Website: go.osu.edu/copyright
Visit: Copyright Services
Thompson Library, Suite 350
1858 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210
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Contact the Copyright Services (libcopyright@osu.edu) with questions about this page or requests for content.
Contact Copyright Services for assistance:
Call: 614-688-5849
Email: libcopyright@osu.edu
Website: go.osu.edu/copyright
Visit: Copyright Services
Thompson Library, Suite 350
1858 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH