There are several main criteria for determining whether a source is reliable or not.

8 Ways to Determine Website Reliability

1. Look for Established Institutions. The internet is full of websites that were started five minutes ago.
2. Look for Sites with Expertise.
3. Steer Clear of Commercial Sites.
4. Beware of Bias.
5. Check the Date.
6. Consider the Site’s Look.
7. Avoid Anonymous Authors.
8. Check the Links.

There are many factors that make a source credible. Whenever you are looking at a source on the internet, you should check several things to verify that the information is credible. These things include the source’s authority, accuracy, objectivity, currency, and coverage.

1. 1) Accuracy. Verify the information you already know against the information found in the source.
2. 2) Authority. Make sure the source is written by a trustworthy author and/or institution.
3. 3) Currency.
4. 4) Coverage.

Recommended credible research websites

YouTube: YouTube and other video-sharing sites are generally not considered reliable sources because anyone can create or manipulate a video clip and upload without editorial oversight, just as with a self-published website. Videos may also be used as a convenience link for material originally published elsewhere.

Check all that apply.

• an article from an Internet magazine.
• lyrics for a song written in the 1800s.
• photos taken by a student on his blog.
• a video game that is free for anyone to copy.
• an illustration sold by an artist on her website.
• an excerpt from a novel published in 1913.

What Can Be Copyrighted

• Literary Works.
• Musical Works.
• Dramatic Works.
• Pantomimes and Choreographic Works.
• Pictorial, Graphic, and Sculptural Works.
• Motion Pictures and Other Audiovisual Works.
• Sound Recordings.
• Compilations.

Original works, for example writing, music, drama, art and photography, are protected by copyright. Films, sound recordings, typographical arrangements and broadcasts are also covered as long as they are not copied from a previous work of the same kind.

Fair Use is a Balancing Test

• Factor 1: The Purpose and Character of the Use.
• Factor 2: The Nature of the Copyrighted Work.
• Factor 3: The Amount or Substantiality of the Portion Used.
• Factor 4: The Effect of the Use on the Potential Market for or Value of the Work.
• Resources.

In order for something to be fair use, you must give full credit to the person who created it. This includes the creator’s name, as well as other information that will help people find the original work or source.

The four factors judges consider are:

1. the purpose and character of your use.
2. the nature of the copyrighted work.
3. the amount and substantiality of the portion taken, and.
4. the effect of the use upon the potential market.