When must permission be obtained to use copyrighted materials?
If the work in question does not meet the threshold of originality, then it cannot be copyrighted. You may be able to use the work under fair use. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use It is also legal in some countries to create a variation of a written work which enables visually impaired or blind people to read it, such as by larger text or braille. The Berne three-step-test further says the following: Members shall confine limitations and exceptions to exclusive rights to certain special cases which do not conflict with a normal exploitation of the work and do not unreasonably prejudice the legitimate interests of the rights holder.
