US Introduces New Copyright Exemptions
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Meaning of "research" and "study" in the Copyright Act
June 2009
This information is for general guidance only; it is not legal advice.
There are special exceptions in the Copyright Act that allow:
- people to use copyright material for their research or study, provided the use is "fair";
- libraries to copy certain material in their collections for their client's research or study
Meaning of "research" and "study"
In one case, the Court said that “research” and “study” in the Copyright Act have the same meaning as in the Macquarie dictionary:- “research” means “diligent and systematic enquiry or investigation into a subject in order to discover facts or principles...”
- “study” includes “(1.) The application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection; (2.) the cultivation of a particular branch of learning, science, or art:...(3.) a particular course of effort to acquire knowledge...(5.) a thorough examination and analysis of a particular subject...”