Which of the following is a recognized fair use of copyright?

The concept of fair use in copyright law allows for limited use of copyrighted material without requiring permission from the copyright holder, particularly under specific circumstances. Copying for criticism and comment is recognized as a fair use because it serves the public interest by enabling dialogue, scholarly analysis, and commentary on the original work. This type of use is transformative in nature, meaning it does not merely replicate the original work but instead adds new meaning or insights, thereby contributing to public discourse.

Fair use assessments typically consider several factors, including the purpose and character of the use, the nature of the copyrighted work, the amount and substantiality of the portion used, and the effect of the use on the market value of the original work. In the case of criticism and comment, the transformative nature of this usage tends to favor fair use, as it encourages the critical examination of cultural works.

In contrast, copying for commercial profit, copying without any purpose, and copying to create derivative works for sale generally do not qualify as fair use, as they often undermine the market for the original work and do not contribute similar societal benefits. Thus, copying for criticism and comment distinctly aligns with the objectives of fair use, making it the correct answer.