In which situation does copyright clearance not need to be requested?

The fair use doctrine allows for limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the copyright holder under specific circumstances. This includes uses for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. In these scenarios, the use of the media is considered fair if it meets certain criteria, which include the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the original work, the amount used in relation to the whole, and the effect on the market value of the original work.

When a use falls under the fair use doctrine, copyright clearance is not required because the law acknowledges that certain uses support the principles of creativity, education, and public discourse. Therefore, individuals leveraging this doctrine in their projects can do so without the fear of infringing on copyright laws, assuming their use is justifiable and adheres to the doctrine’s guidelines.