Insubstantial portion

An insubstantial portion of work under copyright can be used without infringing, and without needing permission or a licence to use.

An insubstantial portion is not defined by an amount in the Copyright Act, but whether a part is essential, vital, or material - the amount used compared to the whole, the context of the use, the purpose, and the use of the portion are all factors to consider.

For guidance about deciding if a quote or extract could be considered insubstantial see Australian Copyright Council guide to Quotes and Extracts.