The fair use doctrine recognizes that rigid application of copyright laws in certain cases would be unfair or may inappropriately stifle creativity or stop people from creating original works, which would harm the public. So, the doctrine allows people to use someone else’s copyrighted work without permission in certain circumstances. Common examples include: criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship and research. Fair use exists in certain countries, including the U.S. Other countries around the world use related laws, such as fair dealing, that allow the use of copyrighted works in certain instances. Since there are no clear rules that tell you what falls within the fair use doctrine, you may want to consult an attorney if you have questions about whether you are within the boundaries of fair use. Factors that help determine fair use Though it's often difficult to know if a particular use of copyrighted work is a fair use, the law o...