From the Authors Alliance:
Inspired by the work of Peter Jaszi and Patricia Aufderheide at the Center for Media and Social Impact at American University, [the Guide to Fair Use for Nonfiction Authors] focuses on best practices for nonfiction authors—from biographers to science writers, historians to literary critics, memoirists to academics, and beyond—who depend on the use of copyrighted materials in their work.
The guide will help nonfiction authors who want to do things like:
- Include song lyrics in an academic paper discussing musical trends;
- Quote from a novel to analyze the author’s use of metaphors in a work of literary criticism;
- Incorporate a photograph in an article about the photographer’s use of light and shadow;
- Use a chart in a scientific paper critiquing a researcher’s methodology and findings; or
- Quote from unpublished letters in a memoir.
The guide addresses three common situations faced by nonfiction authors in which fair use may apply: 1) criticizing, discussing, or commenting on copyrighted material; 2) using copyrighted material to support a point made in the author’s work; and 3) using copyrighted material for non-consumptive research. It also addresses the most frequently asked questions about fair use and clears up some common misconceptions about when it might apply.
Direct to Complete Guide (110 pages; PDF)
Hat Tip and Thanks: The Taper/UVA Library
About Gary Price
