Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106 amd 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work,
including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by and 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 determing 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.
SOURCE (Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546;
Pub. L. 101-650, title VI, Sec. 607, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5132;
Pub. L. 102-492, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 3145.)
§108. Limitations on exclusive rights: Reproduction by
libraries and archives
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 106, it is not an infringement of copyright for a
library or archives, or any of its employees acting within the scope of their employment, to
reproduce no more than one copy or phonorecord of a work, or to distribute such copy or
phonorecord, under the conditions specified by this section, if -
(1) the reproduction or distribution is made without any purpose of direct or
indirect commercial advantage;
(2) the collections of the library or archives are (i) open to the public, or (ii) available not
only to researches affiliated with the library or archives or with the institution of which it is a
part, but also to other person doing research in a specialized field; and
(3) the reproduction or distribution of the work includes a notice of copyright.
(b) The rights of reproduction and distribution under this section apply to a copy or
phonorecord of an unpublished work duplicated in facsimile form soley for the purposes of
preservation and security or for deposit for research use in another library or archives of the type
described by clause (2) of subsection (a), if the copy or phonorecord reproduced is currently in
the collections of the library or archives.
(c) The right of reproduction under this section applies to a copy or phonorecord of a
published work duplicated in facsimile form soley for the purpose of replacement of a copy or
phonorecord that is damaged, deteriorating, lost, or stolen, if the library or archives has, after a
reasonable effort, determined that an unused replacement cannot be obtained at a fair price.
(d) The rights of reproduction and distribution under this section apply to a copy, made from
the collection of a library or archives where the user makes his or her request or from that of
another library or archies, of no more than one article or other contribution to a copyrighted
collection or periodical issue, or to a copy or phonorecord of a small part of any other
copyrighted work, if -
(1) the copy or phonorecord becomes the property of the user, and the library
or archives has had no notice that the copy or phonorecord would be used for any purpose other
than private study, scholarship, or research; and
(2) the library or archives displays prominently, at the place where orders are accepted, and
includes on its order form, a warning of copyright in accordance with requirements that the
Register of Copyrights shall prescribe by regulation.
(e) The rights of reproduction and distribution under this section apply to the entire work, or
to a substantial part of it, made from the collection of a library or archies where the user makes
his or her request or from that of another library or archives, if the library or archives has first
determined, on the basis of a reasonable investigation, that a copy or phonorecord of the
copyrighted work cannot be obtained at a fair price, if-
(1) the copy or phonorecord becomes the property of the user, and the library
or archives has had no notice that the copy or phonorecord would be used for any purpose other
than private study, scholarship, or research; and
(2) the library or archives displays prominently, at the place where orders are accepted, and
includes on its order form, a warning of copyright in accordance with the requirements that the
Register of Copyrights shall prescribe by regulation.
(f) Nothing in this section-
(1) shall be construed to impose liability for copyright infringement upon a
library or archives or its employess for the unsupervised use of reproducing equipment located on
its premises: Provided, That such equipment displays a notice that the making of a
copy may be subject to the copyright law;
(2) excuses a person who uses such reproducing equipment or who requests a copy or
phonorecord under subsectio (d) from from liability for copyright infringement for any such act,
or for any later use of such copy or phonorecord, if it exceeds fair use as provided by section 107;
(3) shall be construed to limit the reproduction and distribution by lending of a limited
number of copies and excerpts by a library or archives of an audiovisual news program, subject
to clauses (1), (2), and (3) of subsection (a); or
(4) in any way affects the right of fair use as provided by section 107, or any contractual
obligations assumed at any time by the library or archives when it obtained a copy or
phonorecord of a work in its collections.
(g) The rights of reproduction and distribution under this section extend to the isolated and
unrelated reproduction or distribution of a single copy or phonorecord of the same material on
separate occasions, but do not extend to cases where the library or archives, or its employee -
(1) is aware or has substantial reason to believe that it is engaging in the related or concerted
reproduction or distribution of multiple copies or phonorecords of the same material, whether
made on one occasion or over a period of time, and whether intended for aggregate use by one or
more individuals or for separate use by the individual members of a group; or
(2) engages in the systematic reproduction or distribution of single or multiple copies or
phonorecords of material described in subsection (d): Provided, That nothing in this clause
prevents a library or archives from participating in interlibrary arrangements that do not have, as
their purpose or effect, that the library or archives receiving such copies or phonorecords for
distribution does so in such aggregate quantities as to substitute for a subscription to or purchase
of such work.
(h) The rights of reproduction and distribution under this section do not apply to a musical
work, a pictorial, graphic or sculptural work, or a motion picture or other audiovisual work other
than an audiovisual work dealing with news, except that no such limitation shall apply with
respect to rights granted by subsections (b) and (c), or with respect to pictorial or graphic works
published as illustrations, diagrams, or similar adjuncts to works of which copies are reproduced
or distributed in accordance with subsections (d) and (e).
Five years from the effective date of this Act, and at five-year intervals thereafter, the
Register of Copyrights, after consulting with representatives of authors, book, and periodical
publishers, and other owners od copyrighted materials, and with representatives of library users
and librarians, shall submits to the Congress a reports setting forth the extent to which this
section has achieved the intended statutory balancing of the rights of creators, and the needs of
users. The report should also describe any problems that may have arisen, and present legislative
or other recommendations, if warrented.
SOURCE - (Pub. L. 94-553, title I, Sec. 101, Oct. 19, 1976, 90 Stat. 2546; Pub. L. 102-307,
title III, Sec. 301, June 26, 1992, 106 Stat. 272.)
Link to U.S. Copyright Office
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