Definition of "Fair Use" is unclear to me!

When listening to one of the videos for this week, an unclear statement that I heard was concerning the "Fair use act." The video describes four factors of the fair use act. One of the four factors mentioned was about the amount of information that can be "rightfully used." However, the speaker said that the amount of information that can be used is "not cut and dry." According to the governments own website (http://www.copyright.gov/) what constitutes fair use is even unclear to them:

"The distinction between fair use and infringement may be unclear and not easily defined. There is no specific number of words, lines, or notes that may safely be taken without permission. Acknowledging the source of the copyrighted material does not substitute for obtaining permission" (U.S. Copyright Office, 2009).

So, whether a student should or should not plagiarize is not the unclear point. The unclear point is determining what infringement is and what fair use is. I am thankful for the Internet and the vast array of information that is accessible to me for "fair use." Upon graduation, I would like to be able to use the information gained through this degree to help the students that God places under my care to be able to make the most of technology in the field of education. It is unclear as to what, if any, changes/clarifications will be made to this Act. So, I think it is important for students to Learn the proper and ethical ways to use and cite all information that is obtained.


Reference:
U.S. Copyright Office. (2009). Retrieved on: November 23, 2011 from U.S. Copyright Office website: http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html/.