The Legacy Tobacco Documents Library is an archive of industry documents and audiovisual materials and while we host and maintain the images/recordings, the individual tobacco companies hold the rights to the information they created, meaning it cannot be "substantially" reproduced in books or other media without the companies' permissions. The use of copyrighted material, including reproduction, is governed by United States copyright law (Title 17, United States Code). The law may permit the "fair use" of a copyrighted work, including the making of a photocopy, "for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship or research." 17 U.S.C. § 107.

According to the US Copyright Office, when determining whether a particular use comes under "fair use" you must consider the following:

• the purpose and character of the use, including whether it is of commercial nature or for nonprofit educational purposes;
• the nature of the copyrighted work itself;
• how much of the work you are using in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole (1 page of a 1000 page work or 1 print advertisement vs. an entire 30 second advertisement);
• the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work. (http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html)