Copyright is when a person or company legally owns a piece of work, idea, or branding. People who use their copyrighted property without permission can get in serious trouble.
Examples:
lyrics
novels
paintings
photographs
Trademarks
colors (Barbie Pink, John Deer Green)
logos
brand names
Fair use allows for the use of copyrighted materials without permission under certain conditions.
These conditions include:
criticism
parody
news reporting
research & scholarship
teaching
However these conditions are more complicated. That is why it is a good idea to consider these four factors.
Purpose and Character Use
Nature of Copyrighted Work
Amount and Sustainability
Effect Upon the Potential Market
Learn more HERE.
You can avoid copyright by crediting the sources when using them in your school work or presentations. Additionally, you can watch out for copyright symbols and try to only using materials that are fair use or in the public domain.
Copyright symbols:
™ = trademark
® = registered trademark
© = copyright