The protection given to any created image or work for being copied or distributed without permission. All images are immediately given copyright to the creator when the image is created.
Fair Use
The legal right to use copyrighted images as long as the images are used for educational, research, or personal or use or as long as the image benefits the public good in some way.
Creative Commons
Images that are copyrighted but that the creator has put provisions on their use. A creative commons license might stipulate, for example, that an image can be used as long as it isn't modified in any way.
Public Domain
Images that no longer have copyright restrictions either because the creator willingly relinquished their copyright or because the creator is dead and no one owns the copyright.
Provides visual-arts professionals with a set of principles addressing best practices in the fair use of copyrighted materials. From the College Art Association.
