English Composition 101: Academic Integrity - Copyright and Fair Use Public Domain Creative Commons Educational Use Four Factors of Fair Use

What It Is

Copyright and fair use are essential concepts for writers to understand. When writing a research paper, you may want to use a famous quote or a song in your presentation. However, using someone else's work without permission can lead to copyright infringement. For example, if you use a quote from a book without citing the author or obtaining permission, you may be violating the copyright law. Understanding fair use and public domain can help you avoid plagiarism and ensure that your work is original. This matters for academic or professional writing because it demonstrates your ability to use sources responsibly and respect the intellectual property of others.

Core Principles

• Copyright: A legal right granted to creators to control the reproduction, distribution, and display of their original work.
• Public Domain: Works that are no longer protected by copyright, such as works published before 1923.
• Creative Commons: A licensing system that allows creators to share their work under flexible terms.
• Educational Use: Using copyrighted materials for educational purposes, such as in a classroom or for research.
• Four Factors of Fair Use:
  • Purpose and Character of the Use: Is the use for commercial or non-commercial purposes?
  • Nature of the Copyrighted Work: Is the work a creative work or a factual work?
  • Amount and Substantiality of the Portion Used: How much of the work is used and is it a substantial part?
  • Effect of the Use on the Market: Does the use harm the market for the original work?
• When using a quote, always cite the source and provide page numbers.
• When using a song, obtain permission or use a public domain version.
• When using a photo, obtain permission or use a Creative Commons licensed image.
• Use "fair use" instead of "fair use doctrine".
• "Public domain" is not the same as "public domain works".
• When citing a source, use "paraphrase" instead of "quote".
• Use "in-text citation" instead of "footnote".
• When using a copyrighted work, always check the "terms of use".
• "Copyright infringement" is a serious offense.
• Use "permission" instead of "license".
• When using a Creative Commons licensed work, always check the "license terms".

Common Writing Errors

• Error: "I'm going to use this song in my presentation because it's a great example of the 1960s music scene."
• Why it fails: This statement doesn't acknowledge the copyright holder's rights.
• Correction: "I'm going to use this song in my presentation, but I'll obtain permission from the copyright holder first."
• Error: "This quote is in the public domain, so I don't need to cite it."
• Why it fails: Not all public domain works are automatically free to use.
• Correction: "This quote is in the public domain, but I'll still cite the source to give credit to the author."
• Error: "I'm using this photo because it's Creative Commons licensed."
• Why it fails: Not all Creative Commons licensed works are free to use.
• Correction: "I'm using this photo because it's Creative Commons licensed, and I've checked the license terms to ensure I'm using it correctly."

Quick Application

• Scenario 1: You are arguing that college tuition should be free. Write a thesis statement.
  • Model answer: "While college tuition may seem like a necessary expense, I argue that making college tuition free would have a positive impact on the economy and society as a whole."
  • Explanation: This thesis statement clearly states the claim and provides a roadmap for the argument.
• Scenario 2: You are writing a research paper on the impact of social media on mental health. Write a sentence using a quote from a study.
  • Model answer: "According to a study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, 'social media use is associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents' (Hertz et al., 2017, p. 12)."
  • Explanation: This sentence uses a quote from a study and provides in-text citation to give credit to the authors.
• Scenario 3: You are creating a presentation on the benefits of renewable energy. Write a sentence using a Creative Commons licensed image.
  • Model answer: "As shown in this Creative Commons licensed image, solar panels can be installed on rooftops to generate electricity and reduce carbon emissions."
  • Explanation: This sentence uses a Creative Commons licensed image and provides a brief description of the image to give context.

Last-Minute Revision

Always check the terms of use before using a copyrighted work.
Use in-text citation instead of footnotes.
Paraphrase instead of quoting directly.
Use permission instead of license.
Check the license terms before using a Creative Commons licensed work.
Use public domain works instead of copyrighted works when possible.
Cite sources to give credit to authors.
Use a citation style (e.g. MLA, APA) consistently throughout the paper.
Proofread for errors in citation and formatting.
Use transition words (e.g. however, therefore, meanwhile) to connect ideas.
Use punctuation correctly (e.g. commas, semicolons, periods).
Use active voice instead of passive voice.
Use clear and concise language.
Use headings and subheadings to organize the paper.
Use a clear and concise title.
Use a bibliography to list sources.