COMM 4600 Communication and Emotion

Many databases, including Communication and Mass Media Complete have a feature.  These are super-handy because clicking on these gets the database to "create" a citation for you that you can then cut and paste into a bibliography. But, databases MAKE MISTAKES.  Please consider a database-created citation a DRAFT.  Double-check your work against the Style Manual (or one of its deriatives) listed above. 

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:

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.

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: 

• Follow the Four Factors of Fair Use: A video about using a fair use checklist to help conduct a fair use analysis
• Columbia University Libraries Fair Use Checklist: A printable fair use checklist
• OSU Health Sciences Library Fair Use Checklist: An interactive version of the fair use checklist

Questions about Fair Use?

Contact Copyright Services at 614-688-5849 or libcopyright@osu.edu.