what is the purpose of fair use laws

The purpose it to balance the greed of thieves against socially useful purposes such as education, debate, and public policy.

Mainly, they indicate what can be freely used by anybody, as opposed to what is copyrighted and either cannot legally be used or can be used with written permission of the owner. ~~> Stories, artwork, photos, lyrics, music ... you name it! Anything humans can create, whether it can be seen/touched or not.

Read lots.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fair+use+laws&oq=fair+use+laws&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.2824j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

The purpose of fair use laws is to provide certain exemptions to copyright holders' exclusive rights under specific circumstances. Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows individuals to use copyrighted material without obtaining permission from the copyright owner or infringing on their rights. The primary objective of fair use is to strike a balance between the rights of the copyright holders and the public's right to access and use copyrighted material for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. It helps ensure creative expression, free speech, and promotes innovation by not overly restricting the use and sharing of copyrighted works. However, it is important to note that fair use determinations are made on a case-by-case basis, considering factors like the purpose, nature, amount, and effect of the use on the market for the original work.

The purpose of fair use laws is to strike a balance between protecting the rights of copyright holders and allowing limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research.

To understand the purpose of fair use laws, you can consider the following steps:

1. Define fair use: Fair use is a legal doctrine that allows limited use of copyrighted material without seeking permission from the copyright holder. It is based on the idea that certain uses can be considered fair and not infringe upon the rights of copyright owners.

2. Identify the four factors: Fair use is determined by considering four factors:
a. Purpose and character of the use: Is the use transformative (i.e., adds new meaning, message, or purpose) or non-transformative?
b. Nature of the copyrighted work: Is the copyrighted material primarily factual or creative?
c. Amount and substantiality of the portion used: How much of the copyrighted work is being used in relation to the whole?
d. Effect of the use on the potential market: Does the use harm the market value of the copyrighted work?

3. Analyze the four factors: To determine whether a use qualifies as fair use, these factors must be weighed and balanced on a case-by-case basis. No single factor is determinative, and they should be considered as a whole.

4. Understand the purpose: Fair use laws allow for the unlicensed use of copyrighted material for specific purposes. It provides a legal framework to promote creativity, education, and the advancement of knowledge by enabling individuals to use copyrighted works in reasonable and limited ways without seeking permission.

Overall, the purpose of fair use laws is to foster a balance that protects both the rights of copyright holders and the public's interest in accessing information, fostering creativity, and promoting free speech.