Fair Game on Internet

Fair use is the right, in some circumstances, to quote copyrighted material without asking permission or paying for it. Fair use enables the creation of new culture, and keeps current copyright holders from being private censors. With the Washington College of Law, the Center for Social Media creates tools for creators, teachers, and researchers to better use their fair use rights.

Social networking websites build upon the concept of traditional social networks in the “real world,” connecting users to familiar and new people through mutual acquaintances and common interests.

The very nature of such sites encourages users to provide a certain amount of personal information. But when deciding how much information to reveal, people may not exercise the same amount of caution on a Website as they would when meeting someone in person. This happens because:

• the Internet provides a sense of anonymity;
• the lack of physical interaction provides a false sense of security; and
• they tailor the information for their friends to read, forgetting that others may see it

Sharing too much information on social networking sites can be problematic in two ways: first, it can reveal something about you that you’d rather your current or future employer or school administrator not know, and second, it can put your personal safety at risk.

Journalists have created a set of principles that allows them to stop censoring their journalistic choices, especially in emerging digital environments. This Set of Principles reduces risk of copyright infringement by clarifying professional community standards. It identifies seven situations in which journalists routinely employ fair use, and what its limitations are: Incidental capture; proof; use in cultural journalism; illustration; historical reference; to foster public discussion and advancing the story.

This Set of Principles was created by journalists convened by chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and in some cases the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies. In 10 cities nationwide, they conducted 17 meetings, facilitated by Profs. Patricia Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi of American University. Endorsers include the Poynter Institute, New America Media, and others.

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