However, authors can make it clear that they do allow re-use of their material by saying so clearly on their documents. In essence this is a statement that the author gives permission to make copies, which the copyright holder can do. All government documents are in the public domain. U.S. Federal government documents are in the public domain. Many state government documents, and most documents from foreign governments, are protected by copyright.
Courts consider a number of factors in deciding whether a use is fair.
Some Copyright Resources Terry Carroll's Copyright FAQ is a user-friendly approach to understanding copyright issues. Stanford University has developed interesting pages on Fair Use. A good general and comprehensive site on copyright issues relating to copyright and especially as it relates to digital communications is hosted by the International Federation of Library Associations . For information on current national and international legislation relating to copyright, visit the site of the Digital Future Coalition . Follow CPSR activities relating to copyright and intellectual property.