What About Photocopies?

With a few exceptions (see Fair Use), making a single copy of an original work of authorship requires the copyright owner's permission. The photocopying machine is a very familiar part of life in the U.S., and copyrights are often and massively infringed by its use. Luckily, if the copying is very limited and not for the purpose of making money, the copying is usually considered a fair use if an infringement lawsuit is threatened. Because the copying is often done in private and doesn't involve commercial distribution, this type of infringement is seldom discovered. Unless the owner can prove damages in the manner of profits, a lawsuit is usually out of the question.

HOWEVER, there have been suits brought to court where the copying did adversely affect the owner. One of the more outstanding suits was brought against a copy company that was copying excerpts from books without obtaining permission for the copying and was compiling the copies into course packets to sell them to college students.