The Research Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Video Summary
As creators, we need to be aware of copyright law and the appropriate ways to use original work responsibly with fair use. Being a creator means giving credit where credit is due, and getting credit for your original work!

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Copyright law protects unpublished as well as published materials. 

US copyright laws are designed to prevent people from copying and distributing other people's work without permission. This includes both paper copies (i.e., photocopies, typewritten copies, etc.) and electronic copies (scanned or uploaded). In an academic setting there is a fair use exception to the permission requirement, but it is only available if you meet the guidelines.

Fair Use is a copyright principle that allows users of information to be able to use intellectual property while still enabling the creator to be able to own and profit from their work. If you are using an intellectual work for any of these reasons then you are more than likely to fall under the fair use and principle of copyright.

These reasons include: criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research.

What counts as "fair use" of something depends on these four main factors:

1. The Purpose and Character of Use: How have you used the work? Have you transformed the original work by adding new expressions or meanings?
2. The Nature of the Copyrighted Work: Is the work factual in nature or creative? Is it unpublished or published? Different factors affecting the original work will have an effect on fair use. 
3. The Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Used: How much of the original work are you quoting, summarizing, or using? And, of the portion you are using, how much of the "substantial" idea of the work are you using?
4. The Effect of the Use on the Original Work in the Market: Does how you use the work deprive the copyright owner of income? Does it undermine a new or potential market for the original work?

Video Summary
Latest video from Creative Commons, explaining what Creative Commons is and how it works.