Fair use is a legal doctrine in the United States that allows for limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining permission from the copyright holder. It is a balancing act between the rights of the copyright holder and the rights of the public to use copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. The purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the portion used, and the effect on the potential market for the copyrighted work are all factors considered when determining whether a particular use qualifies as fair use. It is important to note that fair use is a specific and limited exception to copyright law and must be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis.
