If I would like to include information from a scholarly article for a presentation to community members at a public meeting, do I need to ask permission?
If you paraphrase the information and give credit to the author then this is acceptable. If you quote a small amount (“insignificant” is the operative term) and give credit then that is considered “fair use”. Note that you asked about a “public” meeting. There are many conditions which change the nature of the use: whether or not (1) admission is charged, (2) a materials fee is required, (3) if it is televised, (4) if it is open or closed to the public, etc. All these conditions affect the use of the material.
Related Questions
- Are members of the governing body of a public agency criminally liable for violations of the Open Meeting Law in which they knowingly participate?
- When does a meeting or gathering of members of a public body or agency require public notice?
- Does every gathering of various members of a public body constitute a "meeting" under FOIA?
