Copyright and Fair Use
Learn what copyright means and how to use others' creative work fairly.
When someone creates something — a book, song, photo, or video — they own it. Copyright is the legal right that protects their creation. You cannot copy or use it without permission.
Understanding Copyright
Copyright automatically protects creative works. If you write a story, draw a picture, or take a photo, you own the copyright. Others cannot copy or use your work without your permission.
Fair Use
Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material for education, commentary, or research without permission. For example, quoting a few sentences from a book in a school report is usually considered fair use.
Some creators share their work with a Creative Commons license, which means you can use it for free — as long as you give credit. Look for CC-licensed images and music for school projects!
Ready to test your knowledge?
3 questions · Grade 2 level