Fair Use
Noun · Hacker Culture
Definitions
A legal doctrine in U.S. copyright law that can permit limited use of copyrighted material without permission in contexts such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, teaching, or parody. In digital culture, fair use is often discussed with more confidence than real legal certainty justifies.
In plain English: A legal principle that can allow limited use of copyrighted material without permission.
Example: "The team assumed the clip was fair use because it was short, but legal reminded them that context and purpose mattered more than any folk rule about length."