U.S. Copyright Law mentions some situations that could limit the rights of the copyright owner or holder and, consequently, allow an individual to use the copyrighted material. Some of the exceptions include:
<u>Fair Use</u> (nonprofit, personal or educational environments' requirement to use the material for research, teaching or scholarship purposes);
<u>First Sale Doctrine</u> (distributing or lending a legally acquired physical copy of a copyrighted material, specially applicable for libraries);
<u>Reproduction for Libraries and Archives</u> (making copies under very strict conditions);
<u>Classroom Display or Performance</u> (displaying copyrighted material in face-to-face classroom setting within the framework of a non-profit educational institution).
In the case someone would want to use a copyrighted material and is not covered by any of these exceptions, that individual must obtain permission from the copyright owner in the form of licesing.