Fair use is a doctrine in United States law that allows limited uses of copyrighted material without first obtaining permission from the copyright owner. Fair use is one of the limitations on copyright that balances the interests of the copyright owner with the public interest in wider distribution and use of creative works by allowing as a defense to copyright infringement claims certain limited uses that might otherwise be considered infringement.[1] The United States' "fair use doctrine" is generally broader than the "fair dealing" rights known in most English common law successor states. Fair use is a general exception that applies to all different types of uses with all types of works. In the United States, the fair use/exception is based on a flexible proportionality test, examining the intended use, the amount of use, and the impact on the market for the original work.