What should be done if use of copyrighted material is not fair use?

• A. Use it without permission.
• B. Attribute the author and use it freely.
• C. Use a similar work instead from another author.
• D. Obtain written permission from the owner or use alternatives with a Creative Commons license.

Answer: (D)

When reuse isn’t clearly fair use, you need explicit permission or a clearly licensed alternative. Fair use covers only limited, specific situations, so relying on it for everyday project needs is risky. The safest approach is to obtain written permission from the copyright owner, which gives you a clear right to use the work for your purpose. Alternatively, look for materials that come with a license that allows reuse, such as Creative Commons—these licenses spell out what you can do (and often require attribution or other conditions). This combination—written permission or clearly licensed content—provides legal clarity and protects you from infringement. Using material without permission, simply attributing it, or swapping in a similar-looking work doesn’t reliably grant the rights you need, so they’re not appropriate options unless the specific use falls under fair use.