Reuse & Derivatives
Parody & Fair Use
Fair use can excuse some uses (like genuine parody) without a license, but it's a narrow, case-by-case defense, not a substitute for clearing your music.
Music's reuse rules have one outer limit: fair use (§107). In Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, the Supreme Court held that genuine parody (commenting on the original work itself) can be fair use, even when it is commercial.
Good to know
Parody & Fair Use: common questions
- Is a parody cover fair use?
- Maybe. If it genuinely comments on or mocks the original song, a court may find it fair use. A straight cover, or a song that just borrows another track’s appeal, is not parody and still needs clearing.