What is fair use?

Fair use is a legal concept that describes when it is acceptable to use works protected by copyright. Fair use is determined by four principles, which you can read more about in your textbook: How will the work be used? Is it for commentary, education, research, etc.? Will someone profit financially from it? What kind […]

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How do I decide if I can use an image (or other resource)?

You have to consider how the image (or other resource) is licensed. If the image is protected by copyright, you can only use it if it falls under fair use. Use one of the American Library Association tools to determine if the image is protected by copyright and whether your way of using the image […]

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How do I take a screenshot?

On Mac Use Command + Shift + 3. The screenshot usually shows up on your Desktop, with a name like “Screen Shot 2015-02-14 at 9.29.31 AM.” You can edit the image (crop it, etc.) if you like. You can also use Grab, which will let you select a specific portion of the screen (rather than […]

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How do I use images in my project?

Follow these tips on using images in your projects to make sure that you have professional images that fit well in your document: If necessary, be sure that your crop and resize your images before you add them to your document. Use the insert tools in the word processor you prefer to place the images […]

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How can I tell if an image is protected by copyright?

Visit these tools to explore whether images you find online are copyright protected and whether your use is fair use: Digital Slider, from the American Library Association. Copyright Genie, from the American Library Association. Fair Use Evaluator, from the American Library Association. Can I Use that Picture? The Terms, Laws, and Ethics for Using Copyrighted […]

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How does copyright work with images?

In addition to the information in your textbook, you can read Copyright Fair Use and How it Works for Online Images, from Social Media Examiner, for an explanation of how and when you can use images that you find online.

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How do I choose images for my projects?

Create or choose images that meet these criteria: The graphics need to be free of copyright restrictions (unless they fit the definition of fair use), or you must obtain permission to use them. [More on this topic in the next section.] Photos and/or illustrations should accurately depict the information in the document. Avoid images that […]

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