TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
> The simplest test of fair use (and I emphasize that it's also an
> overly _simplistic_ test in the legal sense) is to ask yourself
> this question: are you using the quoted material to _support_
> a well-prepared argument (or sales pitch) and add depth to it,
> or to avoid doing the work of supporting the rhetoric by your
> own efforts and your own creation of words or images?
Another important part of the fair-use test is: is your use of the
copyrighted work hurting the copyright owner's market? Have you quoted
so liberally from "Foo for Dummies" in your "Foo Plug-in Guide" that no
one will need to buy "Foo for Dummies?" This is considered a "weighting
factor" that, after all other things are considered, can push your
particular case either toward or away from being considered fair use.