CCC reached out to Dean Martin, Senior Manager—Copyright and Permissions for UK-based Wiley, to share his thoughts on this question.
Reproducing any portion of a figure or table typically requires permission, as copyright protection extends to all parts of original creative works. Whilst some believe using “just part” avoids copyright, even partial reproduction constitutes derivative use requiring authorisation. In my view, the only exceptions are: (1) complete redrawing with substantial transformation that creates genuinely new expression, 2) content explicitly covered by open access licences with attribution (CC-BY, etc.) For pharmaceutical companies using figures or data tables in medical education materials or promotional activities, proper licensing is essential to ensure compliance. I would strongly advise against relying on fair use or fair dealing exceptions without specific legal counsel, as these defences are highly fact-specific, vary significantly by jurisdiction, and rarely apply to commercial pharmaceutical use cases. It’s always best practice to review specific use cases with your legal counsel for guidance.