User blog comment:Semanticdrifter/Understanding Fair Use/@comment-256681-20121127230206/@comment-4811793-20121130153725

"In other words: yes, copyright law is complicated and, to a degree, arbitrary"

Too true. Many of the points coming up in this discussion (while interesting) are a bit beyond the scope of this article. Perhaps we can address some of the more fundamental points in a future entry.

"However, if I was to try to make money out of it, that would be in breach of the law since the car's design is copyrighted."

While whether or not you are making money off the work would be part of the fair use analysis, it is not the only consideration. There could be times where you are profiting and fair use applies, or not making a dime and fair use would not apply.