The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use functions as a critical protection for academic freedom by validating scholars’ professional practices, reducing copyright-induced “chilling effects” that suppress legitimate […]
International Perspectives: Does the Fair Use Code Apply Outside the U.S.?
The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources is explicitly a U.S. document reflecting U.S. copyright law and cannot be directly applied outside the […]
How Librarians Use the Fair Use Code to Support OER
Academic librarians serve as critical infrastructure for the open educational resources movement, using the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources as a central […]
Fair Use and OER in Online and Distance Learning
Fair use applies equally to online and distance learning as it does to in-person teaching, but the legal landscape differs significantly. While in-person classroom teaching enjoys a broad […]
Can You Use Copyrighted Images in OER? What the Code Says
Yes, educators can incorporate copyrighted images into open educational resources under fair use, specifically supported by the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources […]
How the Code of Best Practices Reduces Legal Risk for Institutions
The Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources reduces institutional legal risk through multiple, overlapping mechanisms: reducing the likelihood that copyright holders will sue, […]
The Role of Fair Use in Remixing and Adapting OER
Remixing and adapting open educational resources—combining materials from multiple sources to create new, contextualized learning experiences—represents one of OER’s most powerful capabilities. Fair use plays a critical role […]
How Educators Can Apply the Fair Use Code Step by Step
Applying the Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Open Educational Resources need not be intimidating or administratively burdensome. This practical guide translates the Code’s abstract principles […]
Common Myths About Fair Use in Open Education
Misconceptions about fair use permeate educational practice, creating “copyright anxiety” that causes educators to make pedagogically inferior choices and abandon beneficial projects. These myths—that all educational use is […]
Real-World Examples of Fair Use in OER Projects
Fair use doctrine operates not as abstract legal principle but as practical tool enabling creation of high-quality open educational resources across disciplines. Real-world OER projects demonstrate how educators […]