Joy Butler, an IP lawyer, seems to think that they would be covered by fair use: http://www.guidethroughthelegaljungleblog.com/2014/07/copyright-protection-for

Joy Butler, an IP lawyer, seems to think that they would be covered by fair use: http://www.guidethroughthelegaljungleblog.com/2014/07/copyright-protection-for-internet-content-part-three-are-tweets-copyright-protected.html http://www.guidethroughthelegaljungleblog.com/2014/07/copyri... Hasn't been tested in court, though.