# If I use a Dilbert Cartoon on a presentation, am I infringing copyright ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 31, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934 "2002-12-31T20:23:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/1 "2002-12-31T20:23:55Z")
I have often used images on presentations (goes back to college days). Often I have used images from the net for the last 4-5 years. Sometimes I’ve used images to convey a meaning better and sometimes I’ve used them just to make the presentation look better. The use of these presentations have been for educational and business purposes. Have I unknowingly committed copyright infringement here ? Also, is scanning a part or a book for inclusion into a presentation or a report, a copyright infringement ? Specifically some graphs or plots from a book which are very difficult to draw. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/2 "2002-12-31T21:15:55Z")
An entire cartoon strip? - yes. Small portions of a book - probably not, as long as the original work was cited (fair use). ---
**Author:** ![I\_am\_Sparticus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c68b51/32.png) [@I\_am\_Sparticus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_am_Sparticus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/3 "2002-12-31T21:34:03Z")
Yes. Contact Scott Adams or his representative at [Dilbert.com](http://Dilbert.com). You may be able to secure written permission. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/4 "2002-12-31T21:40:29Z")
i’ve thought of using the one that goes: "I’d like to start off my presentation with a comic. It’s about a guy who starts of a presentation with a joke. Except the joke makes no sense because it doesnt have a punchline." 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/5 "2002-12-31T22:20:32Z")
Probably yes. IANA lawyer, but I think the answer depends partly on what you do professionally, who your audience is, and how (or if) money enters the situation. Are you a professional lecturer/presenter? Then yes. Are you presenting presentations to your family about how to manage the family budget? Then no. There are about a million variations which would determine the answer in your case. ---
**Author:** ![teemingONE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b4bc9f/32.png) [@teemingONE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teemingONE)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/6 "2002-12-31T22:25:29Z")
you should be alright under the the Fair Use Rule of the United States Copyright Act of 1976, but i am not sure if it protects you if you used the entire strip. ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/7 "2002-12-31T22:28:22Z")
I’d suggest using a different strip since Scott Adams isn’t particularly funny. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/8 "2002-12-31T23:00:17Z")
Two of the key tests which would apply are: 1. Quantity - is it just a couple strips in a whole lecture? Or is there one per page? 2. Money - are you being paid to do the presentation? If the answer to 1 is “just 1 or 2” and the answer to 2 is “no”, most likely you fall under Fair Use. However - Fair Use limits are a tricky thing, and interpretations do vary somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![andy\_fl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@andy\_fl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andy_fl)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-i-use-a-dilbert-cartoon-on-a-presentation-am-i-infringing-copyright/145934/9 "2002-12-31T23:59:33Z")
Thanks for all the inputs