Do fair use laws allow someone to parody other's work?

Asked by: Dr. Ansley Hamill DVM  |  Last update: February 16, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (16 votes)

Yes, fair use laws—specifically in the United States—generally allow someone to parody another person's copyrighted work without permission, as parody is considered a "transformative" use. Parody is considered a form of criticism or commentary, which are protected purposes under Section 107 of the Copyright Act.

Does fair use apply to parody?

A parody can be a fair use under the Copyright Act, meaning the creator of the parody does not need the permission of the owner of the copyright in the earlier work. Some parodists, most notably "Weird Al" Yankovich, shown at right, will seek permission as a courtesy.

What is not allowed under fair use?

Reproduction of copyrighted materials, trademarks, or other protected materials without express written permission from the material's owner. Usage of materials that enjoy protected status under current intellectual property laws in their own publications.

Do fair use laws allow someone to parody other's work please select the best answer from the choices provided?

Fair use laws allow someone to parody others' work under certain conditions, recognizing parody as a transformative use. Parody is protected as it can add to commentary and criticism. Thus, the answer is A. True.

What are the 4 conditions of fair use?

The four factors of fair use are: (1) the purpose and character of the use (e.g., transformative, educational vs. commercial), (2) the nature of the copyrighted work, (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used, and (4) the effect of the use on the potential market for the original work; these factors are weighed together on a case-by-case basis to determine if a use falls under fair use.
 

When Is Parody A “Fair Use” Under Copyright Law?

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What is not fair use?

If a use is commercial it is less likely to be fair use and if it is non-commercial it is more likely to be fair use. Transformative uses are those that add something new, with a further purpose or different character, and do not substitute for the original use of the work.

Which two situations generally qualify as fair use?

Under the fair use doctrine of the U.S. copyright statute, it is permissible to use limited portions of a work including quotes, for purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, and scholarly reports.

Can you get sued for doing a parody?

Creators of Parodies Are Granted Immunity From a Copyright Infringement Lawsuit by Claiming Fair Use. A parody is defined as a humorous use of an existing song, play, or writing that changes some of the original content to create a laughable, ironic new work.

Can you copy things for personal use?

No, you cannot make copies of copyrighted material for personal use. It is not permissible to reproduce copyrighted materials in any circumstance, without the written permission of the copyright holder, unless it falls under Fair Use policy.

How can you legally determine if something is fair use?

What is the test for fair use?

  1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
  2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
  3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and.

What is not a valid reason for fair use?

The purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit, educational purposes. If a particular usage is intended to help you or your organization to derive financial or other business-related benefits from the copyright material, then that is probably not fair use.

What exactly does fair use allow?

Fair Use is a legally permissible use of copyrighted material for specific purposes such as commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, teaching or scholarship. For more information about fair use, see: http://ogc.harvard.edu/pages/copyright-and-fair-use .

Which of the following is prohibited under fair use?

Making a single copy of an article is prohibited under fair use.

Do you have to get permission to make a parody?

Usually, if someone's work is copyrighted, you need their permission to use it. However, a parody of a copyrighted work can qualify as a Fair Use, which means you don't need the copyright owner's permission to make and share your parody.

What is an example of a parody?

Some other famous examples of parody in literature include Henry Beard and Douglas Kenney's Bored of the Rings (which parodies J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings), Seth Grahame-Smith's Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (which parodies Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice), and Alice Randall's The Wind Done Gone (which ...

Can I use a trademarked name to criticize them under parody?

The Trademark Dilution Revision Act (TDRA) of 2006 built in a trademark fair use exception for parody and commentary: using a famous mark “other than as a designation of source” for the person's own goods, to identify and parody, criticize, or comment upon the mark owner or its products, is not actionable as dilution.

Is it illegal to rip CDs for personal use?

In the U.S., ripping your own legally purchased CDs for personal use (like putting music on your phone) is generally considered acceptable under fair use, but it's technically a copyright infringement because you're making an unauthorized copy; however, the music industry usually doesn't pursue cases for personal rips, focusing instead on illegal sharing or commercial use, so it's a grey area but often overlooked if it stays private. The key is that the copy must be from a legitimate source you own, for your own listening, and not shared or sold, though some argue even private copying violates copyright. 

Can you sue people for copying you?

Yes, for federal lawsuits. Without registration, you may only be able to sue in state court and can't seek statutory damages or attorney fees. Registration creates a legal presumption of validity and ownership.

What are the four fair use exceptions to copyright?

Fair use of copyrighted works, as stated in US copyright law, “for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”

Do parodies fall under fair use?

Examples of fair use in United States copyright law include commentary, criticism, news reporting, research, and scholarship, as well as parody and search engines. Fair use provides for the legal, unlicensed citation or incorporation of copyrighted material in another author's work under a four-factor test.

How to not get in trouble for copyright?

Since all original content is protected under copyright law unless otherwise indicated, a good best practice is not to reuse ANYTHING unless you get the owner's consent, or unless you are absolutely sure that they have granted permission for others to reuse the work, or the intellectual property clearly falls under ...

What is the legal protection for satire?

Yes, the First Amendment protects free speech, including expressions of parody and satire to mimic and make fun of other artistic works or to criticize society. The First Amendment provides strong protection for artistic expression and for social and political commentary.

What is not considered fair use?

Thus, using a more creative or imaginative work (such as a novel, movie, or song) is less likely to support a claim of a fair use than using a factual work (such as a technical article or news item). In addition, use of an unpublished work is less likely to be considered fair.

What happens if I exceed my fair usage?

Exceeding the Fair Usage amount can incur additional charges and it can result in reduced speeds.

What are the 4 factors of fair use?

The four factors of fair use are: (1) the purpose and character of the use (e.g., transformative, educational vs. commercial), (2) the nature of the copyrighted work, (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used, and (4) the effect of the use on the potential market for the original work; these factors are weighed together on a case-by-case basis to determine if a use falls under fair use.