How Creatives Can Use Articles Without Copying: A Simple, Ethical System
You research for ideas, references, and angles. But copying text from a publisher's page is off-limits. Here's a clean workflow to pull the insights you need, stay within copyright, and keep your process fast.
What you can ask an AI to do (that's safe and useful)
- Create a concise summary of the article's main points and conclusions.
- Produce an expanded summary with structure, key arguments, and quotes paraphrased in fresh words.
- Extract up to 90 characters verbatim if you need a short pull quote.
- Build an outline, bullet-point takeaways, or discussion questions based on the topic.
- Work directly with text you paste in (summarize, analyze, edit, or reformat).
- Draft social posts, a press blurb, or an email summary for sharing.
Prompts you can copy and use
- Concise brief: "Summarize the article in 150 words, focusing on implications for designers and writers."
- Structured recap: "Give me a section-by-section summary with key claims, supporting points, and paraphrased quotes."
- Outline: "Create a 6-part outline I can turn into a blog post or script."
- Takeaways: "List 7 bullet-point insights a creative director could act on this week."
- Quote limit: "Provide one verbatim quote under 90 characters plus a paraphrase I can use for context."
- Format for channels: "Turn the core idea into 3 tweets, 1 LinkedIn post, and a 100-word newsletter blurb."
Stay on the right side of copyright
- Never ask for the exact text from a specific page or section (that's location-based copying).
- Use paraphrased quotes unless you truly need a short verbatim line under 90 characters.
- Cite the source clearly when you publish, even if you paraphrase.
- Sense-check your use against fair use/exceptions. Useful primers: Stanford Fair Use and UK Exceptions to Copyright.
A fast research workflow for creatives
- Define the job: Are you scripting a video, writing a post, or building a pitch deck?
- Get a quick brief: Ask for a 150-300 word summary focused on your use case.
- Map the structure: Request a section-by-section outline with key points.
- Extract actions: Ask for 5-7 practical takeaways you can apply this week.
- Channel-ready: Turn the core idea into drafts for social, newsletter, and a short script.
- Polish: Rewrite in your voice, add your examples, and link the source.
If you need exact wording
Keep verbatim quotes under 90 characters. Use them as a short pull line, then paraphrase the context in your own words. If longer text is essential, quote just what's necessary and add commentary that adds value.
From research to content
Convert summaries into concepts, headlines, and outlines. Turn outlines into scripts, carousels, or short-form posts. Keep a swipe file of paraphrased quotes and insights you can re-use across projects.
Want proven AI resources for creatives?
You don't need verbatim text to get value. Ask for structure, insights, and actions-then add your voice. That's how you move fast without crossing lines.
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