Question: When cut-n-pasting portions of an article to a forum like this, how much of the article can be published here (or anywhere else for that matter) without infringing on copyright laws or other laws? Three sentences? Two paragraphs? A specific word limit? Is there a generally recoginized guideline on this issue? Are there any reporters, writers or Journalism majors here who can provide general guidelines? Here is an example of part of a cut-n-pasted article.
Fair Use Here's some info: "§ 107. Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use40 Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include — (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. The fact that a work is unpublished shall not itself bar a finding of fair use if such finding is made upon consideration of all the above factors." I was always taught that no more than 10% of an work may be used in most instances. I haven't seen any concrete answer since it really depends on the factors above and whether you are using it for commercial gain.
