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Technology

The Doctrine of Fair Use in Digital Copyright Law

Quick fact

The term 'fair use' comes from the 1800s court cases, but the U.S. law formally codified it in 1976. In the digital world, it's the reason why search engines can legally display thumbnail images of copyrighted works.

Why this is interesting

You see a perfect meme and repost it - is that illegal? Or when you quote a paragraph from a blog, are you breaking the law? The answer lies in a centuries-old legal doctrine that has become surprisingly digital.