In school for my ICT coursework I was thinking about using a song but one of the rules is that it has to comply with copyright, but now I heard that there are different types of copyrights. What I want to know is what fair use copyright is and if I can use a song under fair use in my coursework?

All Answers To Questions

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 106A, the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright. In determining whether the use made of a work in any particular case is a fair use the factors to be considered shall include — (1) the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.

Educational use does comply with Fair Use, yes.

Some types of "educational use" are considered "fair use", others have their own statutory exemption (e.g., display or performance by a teacher or student, face-to-face, non-profit school, where there is not enough time to obtain a license, but only the first time it happens).