An Economic Model of Fair Use

The doctrine of fair use allows limited copying of creative works based on the rationale that copyright holders would consent to such uses if bargaining were possible. This paper develops a formal model of fair use in an effort to derive the efficient legal standard for applying the doctrine. The model interprets copies and originals as differentiated products and defines fair use as a threshold separating permissible copying from infringement. The analysis highlights the role of technology in shaping the efficient standard. Discussion of several key cases illustrates the applicability of the model.

1925 Mary Dennie

Queen of the Quill 1925-1926

1928 Hortense Miller

1928-1929 Queen of the Quill

1926 Bertha Johnson

1926-1927 Miss Lincoln

1929 Zenobia A. James

1929-1930 Queen of the Quill

1930 Edith Greene

1930-1931 Queen of the Quill

1935 Almeta Verginia Crockett

1935-1936 Miss Homecoming

1937 Eloise Jackson Taylor

1937-1938 Miss Homecoming

1938 Pauline Julianne Combs

1938-1939 Miss Homecoming

1952 Barbara Jo Wells

1952-1953 Miss Homecoming

1951 Harlene Anderson

1951-1952 Miss Homecoming

1954 Shirley White

1954-1955 Miss Homecoming

1953 Barbara Johnson

1953-1954 Miss Homecoming

1957 Elise Frazier

1957-1958 Miss Lincoln