Wikipedia:Media copyright questions

(For help, see Wikipedia:Purge)

How to add a copyright tag to an existing image

1. On the description page of the image (the one whose name starts File:), click Edit this page.
2. From the page Wikipedia:Image copyright tags, choose the appropriate tag:
   • For work you created yourself, use one of the ones listed under the heading "For image creators".
   • For a work downloaded from the internet, please understand that the vast majority of images from the internet are not appropriate for use on Wikipedia. Exceptions include images from flickr that have an acceptable license, images that are in the public domain because of their age or because they were created by the United States federal government, or images used under a claim of fair use. If you do not know what you are doing, please post a link to the image here and ask BEFORE uploading it.
   • For an image created by someone else who has licensed their image under the GFDL, an acceptable Creative Commons license, or has released their image into the public domain, this permission must be documented. Please see Requesting copyright permission for more information.
3. Type the name of the tag (e.g.; {{GFDL-self}}), not forgetting {{ before and }} after, in the edit box on the image's description page.
4. Remove any existing tag complaining that the image has no tag (for example, {{untagged}})
5. Hit Save page.
6. If you still have questions, go on to "How to ask a question" below.

How to ask a question

1. To ask a new question hit the "Click here to ask your question" link above.
2. Please sign your question by typing ~~~~ at the end.
3. Check this page for updates, or request to be notified on your talk page.
4. Don't include your email address, for your own privacy. We will respond here and cannot respond by email.

Note for those replying to posted questions

If a question clearly does not belong on this page, reply to it using the template {{mcq-wrong}} and, if possible, leave a note on the poster's talk page. For copyright issues relevant to Commons where questions arising cannot be answered locally, questions may be directed to Commons:Commons:Village pump/Copyright.

File:Going to the Sun Mountain 1932.jpg Second review requested

Y Done In view of recent events, I would appreciate it if someone would do a second review of the pd status of File:Going to the Sun Mountain 1932.jpg. If this isn't the right place to make this request, please let me know.--SPhilbrick(Talk) 16:02, 3 February 2012 (UTC)

Firstly the image is hosted on the commons so this is not really the place to discuss its status. Second the copyright status was reviewed back in May 2010 and found to be good. Lastly, having looked at the source, it does appears to be a National Parks Service image as it is attributed specifically to the NPS, so is PD per all other US government images. ww2censor (talk) 17:01, 3 February 2012 (UTC)

The editor who reviewed it is now the subject of multiple CCI investigation because of copyright violations, which is why I am requesting a second opinion, and not accepting the 2010 opinion. Your point that it is on Commons is a good one, I'll see if I can figure out where to ask about it there. I do see the attribution to NPS, so that may be sufficient, but I read this discussion about photos on NPS sites, in which the editor is trying to make the argument that they are Ok to use, clearly implying that there is some question (and I was unable to determine what consensus, if any, was reached). I also read this discussion abut an image found on an NPS site, where the discussion closes with I've tagged it for speedy delete on Commons, so I want to be careful about what is and is not acceptable. I think the distinction is that in the case of the photo that was deleted, while it appeared on an NPS site, it was captioned Courtesy of AP/ Wide World Photos therefore not considered NPS generated, while the Going to the Sun photo is specifically captioned with (National Park Service) Is it fair to assume that the caption indicates that it was NPS generated?--SPhilbrick(Talk) 18:10, 3 February 2012 (UTC)

Yes, I think you have to assume some good faith that the attribution given in this instance is proper. This issue has come up with NASA images too where NASA specifically states some images are not theirs and you will find those images attributed to external photographers/organisations. We have to assume these governmental organisation have some clue as to what is theirs and what is not, unless there are red flags indicating otherwise, such as credibly finding them elsewhere attributed to someone else. ww2censor (talk) 18:38, 3 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks--SPhilbrick(Talk) 19:08, 3 February 2012 (UTC)

NR nominations are just about always submitted by non-government people, but we have no reason to believe that an unattributed photo the the NPS website is privately created. This should be quite safe. Nyttend (talk) 04:23, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

Uploading Public Domain Images to Wiki Commons

I've been told that to insert images in an AFC I must first upload the images to Wiki Commons. The images are sourced from the Library of Congress, and in the public domain. Having difficulty finding where and how to start...can anyone help or tell me where to go within Wiki's website? I am a relatively new user. Thank you.

Navigator42 (talk) 22:12, 4 February 2012 (UTC)

Is there actually any point in uploading images as the article you are trying to write Wikipedia talk:Articles for creation/Washington Map Society appears to be for a non-notable organisation? You can however contribute public domain image to the commons here. ww2censor (talk) 22:33, 4 February 2012 (UTC)

I will be further editing(soon)our AFC for resubmission. I will have some new support for notability. It is our desire to submit a comprehensive revision, including images.

Navigator42 (talk) 22:31, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

To answer your question — go to http://commons.wikimedia.org for the Wikimedia Commons, or http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/special:upload for the page where you can upload images. Nyttend (talk) 04:21, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

cc-by-nc derivative relicensing question

There is a picture on flickr licensed with cc-by-nc. And this means we can't use it given its licensing. Now, what if I were to take it and make a derivative work from it, and license that using a compatible license (e.g. cc-by-sa). It would seem that, without knowing much about cc licenses, since since the author didn't include the sa or "share alike" attribute, that I would be free to license the derivative work however I pleased, as long as I gave the original author credit and (myself) didn't use it for commercial purposes. Can you do this? Can you make a derivative work of a cc-by-nc licensed image and then license that under a less restrictive license? Thanks jheiv ^{talk contribs} 08:18, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

Just wanted to also point out that I've reached out to the original author to ask them to relicense it or provide permission but have gotten no response.jheiv ^{talk contribs} 08:19, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

I originally tagged this one, and I just looked up the legal bits - Section 4b of http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/legalcode

You may not exercise any of the rights granted to You in Section 3 above in any manner that is primarily intended for or directed toward commercial advantage or private monetary compensation. The exchange of the Work for other copyrighted works by means of digital file-sharing or otherwise shall not be considered to be intended for or directed toward commercial advantage or private monetary compensation, provided there is no payment of any monetary compensation in connection with the exchange of copyrighted works.

I think that stops you changing it from NC to SA even if it's a derivative.  Ronhjones  ^(Talk) 13:05, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

I've found something useful - http://wiki.creativecommons.org/FAQ#How_do_I_properly_attribute_a_Creative_Commons_licensed_work.3F - chart about 2/3rd down page - a derivative of a BY-NC image can only be relicensed as BY-NC or BY-NC-ND or BY-NC-SA.  Ronhjones  ^(Talk) 17:19, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

1850 map of Maryland by J. C. Sidney

Hi,

Earlier today I uploaded three images that consisted of sections of an 1850 map of Maryland by J. C. Sidney. I annotated the maps to highlight the location of certain roads on the maps; otherwise the map sections were unchanged from the original. Given its age (> 150 years old), I believe that the map (i.e., the sections I have scanned) may be used freely in Wikipedia articles. Please correct me if I am wrong. At any rate, subsequent to uploading the map files to Wikipedia, I uploaded them to Wikipedia Commons, where I have made use of them in the article "Old Harford Road." Please forgive me for having uploaded the files to Wikipedia; it was a mistake.

Here are the files names:

• File:Map_MD_Sidney1850_OldHarfordRd_north_LABELEDcrop.GIF
• File:Map_MD_Sidney1850_OldHarfordRd_middle_LABELEDcrop.GIF
• File:Map_MD_Sidney1850_OldHarfordRd_south_LABELEDcrop.GIF

Many thanks for you assistance, Sincerely, accas1 — Preceding unsigned comment added by Accas1 (talk • contribs) 15:30, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

I've deleted all three for you. For future note to request deletion of items only you have edited is to add {{db-G7}} to the top of the page ( = where the author of the only substantial content has requested deletion in good faith)  Ronhjones  ^(Talk) 17:26, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

Thanks for the fast response and fix! accas1 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.233.147.62 (talk) 23:02, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

Question about 1916 photograph from France

File:Fonds VDSA 6135.jpg

I have responded to commands from the "Imagebot," but I am not 100% sure I have done the right thing.

This photograph was supplied by the owner in France (a local history organization) specifically for the purpose of illustrating the article on Gustave Rives. The photograph dates from 1916 and should be out of copyright. The building in the photograph, by the way, no longer exists.

I inserted the code {{PD-US-1923-abroad|pdsource=yes}} under "Description," but there is still a notice to the effect that "This image does not have a copyright tag."

What additional information or permission is required to satisfy the requirements?

Thanks,

Pcampsie

In order to claim pd-us-abroad, it has to be demonstrated that the photograph was PUBLISHED prior to 1923. The date the photograph was taken is not relevant. What is needed is when the phoitograph was first published. Nigel Ish (talk) 16:02, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

And uploading it to the commons without the appropriate country tag and evidence of publication does not work either. We really need more accurate information. ww2censor (talk) 17:43, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

It could be used under fair use on en Wikipedia too, due to the building no longer standing. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 20:28, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

The reason it still has the "This image does not have a copyright tag" notice is that you didn't delete the notice when you added the copyright tag. —teb728 t c 19:40, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

Where to check rules on photos of buildings

Where do I check to determine if I can upload a picture of a building taken in the United States from public property? RJFJR (talk) 16:06, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

You're looking for "Freedom of Panorama", which is spelled out at Commons. Photos of US buildings taken from public property are not protected by copyright and thus can be uploaded as a free image (assuming you took the photo and are willing it license it as such ) over at Commons. --MASEM (t) 16:09, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

That's it. Thank you for the swift response. RJFJR (talk) 16:20, 5 February 2012 (UTC)

Photos of US buildings taken from public property are not protected by copyright EXCEPT for the photographer's own copyright over the images; the buildings themselves don't affect the copyright status of the image. Nyttend (talk) 04:19, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

Changing an image

My company updated its logo and would like to change the image on the Wikipedia page to reflect that change. How can I go about changing the image? — Preceding unsigned comment added by AgStarComm (talk • contribs) 19:58, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

The best way would be to upload the new logo and then add it to the article. Whether the old one is deleted depends on whether the logo is eligible for copyright or not. -mattbuck (Talk) 20:04, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

File:KCAL-TV Logo.png

Is this image eligible for copyrights, regardless of typeface? --George Ho (talk) 20:29, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

I would say it's probably PD-ineligible, but IANAL. -mattbuck (Talk) 20:35, 6 February 2012 (UTC)

Simple and more complex logos of TV stations from Los Angeles

Simple

• File:KCET Logo.png
• File:Kvcr 2011.png

Unknown

• File:KABC-TV Logo.png
• File:Ktla2009.png
• File:KBEH63Tr3s.png

Complex

• File:KABC-TV Logo.png

Are these above images eligible for copyright? --George Ho (talk) 05:45, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

File:Tang_type-96.jpg

Could someone take a look at this file? The uploader (who is no longer active) claims it's his own work, and I can't disprove that. However, a) it has what appears to be a watermark in Chinese, and b) I found it because I was going through the uploader's contributions after finding a copy-paste from an external site. I think this image isn't his, and I could be completely wrong, but I'd like a second opinion. Nikkimaria (talk) 13:11, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

Tineye finds a copy at http://www.takungpao.com/news/07/07/24/ZM-770071.htm (but not there now) and at 512 pixels wide, whereas this is bigger. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 20:34, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

Google find several other copies mostly in forums. ww2censor (talk) 21:50, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

Image from me Rejected.

I uploaded an Image but it's rejected, and they say I need some sort of license or template or something like that and I didn't understand a word. Can you please assist me on how to obtain a license to upload images? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Barcelonafan1999 (talk • contribs) 14:50, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

I presume you mean File:Ronaldo2012madridhomekit.jpg which has neither a proper source link and nor a copyright tag. Google found it for you on an internet webpage, but you don't tel us where, so you just copied it, uploaded it and did not prove to us that it is freely licenced. The majority of internet images are copyright to someone and unless you can show the copyright holder has released the image under a free licence that we accept, we can't use it. You may find it useful to read my image copyright information page. ww2censor (talk) 17:37, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

File:Wikimedia-logo.svg

Curious: how does this logo meet the criterion for copyright as defined here? Specifically,

"Lastly, a logo is not eligible for copyright if it consists entirely of simple geometric shapes."

Best, Weatherman1126 (talk) 21:00, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

See discussion in also Commons:Village pump/Copyright#File:Wikimedia-logo.svg. --George Ho (talk) 21:35, 7 February 2012 (UTC)

Do museums hold the copyright of head-on photographs of two-dimensional reliefs or carvings?

Museums typically license their photographs of two-dimensional reliefs or carvings such as the image below. Can it be argued that such a photograph belongs to the Public Domain?

File:Aten_disk.jpg

Commons policy on this is explained at commons:Commons:When to use the PD-Art tag. – ukexpat (talk) 19:16, 8 February 2012 (UTC)

We follow commons policy, and they specifically call out coins as 3D art that fails to fall into the PD-Art allowance. As this is a carving/relief structure, the same concept applies, so if this is a photo that a museum has licensed, then we cannot call it public domain. --MASEM (t) 19:32, 8 February 2012 (UTC)

Old Indonesian magazine

Hi, I'm working on an article on the Indonesian magazine Poedjangga Baroe and the Lontar Foundation will provide me with a scan of the cover of a 1937 issue. I am a little unsure of the copyright on the cover though. Would it be considered a photographic work or a work published by a legal body and thus have fallen out of copyright in 1987, or would it require 50 years pma to be PD? Any feedback greatly appreciated. Crisco 1492 (talk) 04:17, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

If the Foundation owns the copyright, the simplest route would be for them to provide an appropriate copyright release as described in WP:IOWN. – ukexpat (talk) 14:23, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

• They do not, they just own several copies of the magazine (the only cover on the internet is of the less influential second series and the magazine itself never had more than 150 subscribers at a time, so it's quite rare). The copyright would presumably be held by the cover artist or the publisher, Pandji Poestaka. The image is now here under a fair-use license. Crisco 1492 (talk) 14:44, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Announcement: new File Upload Wizard now testing

Hope you folks don't mind me cross-posting this. Regulars of this page might be interested in a new Wikipedia:File Upload Wizard I've been working on. It's meant to help new uploaders with the sourcing/copyright/FUR information in a more user-friendly way.

Please help testing! Fut.Perf. ☼ 15:12, 9 February 2012 (UTC)

Rationale stuff?

I uploaded this file, and a user left a message on my talk page saying that the rationale I put was unacceptable. It had been used for a DVD cover of another movie too, though, so I'm not really sure what to do. Help, please? Fireblazex3 (talk) 12:22, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

I suggest that you use a {{Non-free image rationale}} template with as much detail as possible. That will present the rationale in a standard format. – ukexpat (talk) 19:24, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

It is not used on any articles. (Did you intend to use it on Tere Ghar Ke Samne?) A non-free file cannot be hosted on Wikipedia unless it is used on an article. And there must be a non-free use rationale for each article that (among other things) names the article and explains how the use significantly increases reader understanding of the article. What rationale you have provided doesn't do either. —teb728 t c 19:41, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Using a friend's images

Having completed a successful project for my local railway museum on the closed railway lines in Scotland I thought it could be of interest to produce a similar display for Wikipedia users. Some of this has already been done but many of the articles could be improved. It makes the pages much more interesting if they have images to go along with the text. I have a friend who has a large collection of suitable photos. He is more than happy for these to be used on Wikipedia and the wider on line world. I have struggled to find out how to do this but eventually found the declaration of consent form which can be completed and e mailed. Does he have to send this or can I do it on his behalf? (He is not computer literate) Does he / me have to complete this form for every image used (there could eventually be hundreds) Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I am fairly new to this and am finding writing for Wikipedia a real challenge. To date I have been experimenting with my sand box. Alanyoung2154 (talk) 15:07, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

I'm assuming he took these pictures himself? Yes, I'm afraid he has to do it; we're not allowed to take your word for it that he's okay with this. And yes, each image must be individually licensed, as each one is individually copyrighted. Sorry! --Orange Mike | Talk 15:29, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

• Assuming he's the copyright holder and the images haven't been published elsewhere, he could upload the images to Commons himself as well. Probably a bit simpler than sending dozens of OTRS emails and then having you upload them. Crisco 1492 (talk) 15:39, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Chattertocks logo

Chattertocks (edit|talk|history|links|watch|logs)

I uploaded the Chattertocks logo that was sent to me by The Chattertocks from their own website page. I entered

| image = Chattertocks logo.jpg|thumb|

I got an email from Wiki questioning the copywright. It doesn't have a copyright. I just put in that it was from The Chattertocks. What else do I have to do? ````psantry — Preceding unsigned comment added by Psantry (talk • contribs) 16:18, 10 February 2012‎ (UTC)

If you have permission from the copyright owner, it must be communicated via the process set out at WP:IOWN. – ukexpat (talk) 16:33, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Or if you don't have a free license from the Chattertocks, tag it {{non-free logo}} and use {{non-free use rationale logo}} for the non-free use rationale. —teb728 t c 19:23, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

category for uploading permission for photograph

I have a letter from the woman who took a series of pictures of me for my use (for which I paid a fee). She gave me a letter stating I could use all pictures in any manner I deemed necessary. I do not understand all of the categories on this section so do not know how to categorize the permission I have or what form I use to upload my picture to my article. Carl O Helvie — Preceding unsigned comment added by Carl O. Helvie (talk • contribs) 21:16, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

• So it appears you had a professional take some photos but because it was a work for hire you own the copyright and may release them under any licence you desire. Of course we only accept freely licenced images so that what you much choose if you want to use them here. Consult WP:TAGS to choose an appropriate copyright tag of which a Creative Commons licence is most likely the best for you. ww2censor (talk) 22:11, 10 February 2012 (UTC)

Help With Copyright Info

I was wondering if [this] image (it's the second one with the guy with a broken nose) is ok to use in my article that I am writing. If not, I need information on how to get permission to use it. Thatemooverthere (talk) 03:24, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

The content at your link has changed since you posted; so I can't see the photo any more. The subject is a living person, right? If so the photo would have to be licensed under a free license if we are to use it; permission to use it only on Wikipedia is not enough. Most stuff you find on the internet is not free licensed. In order to get permission you have to find out who the photographer is and then ask him for permission as described at WP:COPYREQ. —teb728 t c 07:33, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

Chinese Stamps

I need to know if I can upload an image of a stamp that was produced by China in 1988. I am aware that I can upload American stamps: are there any other countries whose stamps I can upload without violating copyright? If so, where can I find the information?Ferox Seneca (talk) 03:29, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

Copyright in China lasts 50 years; so a 1988 stamp could be used only under the restrictions of WP:NFCC. (U.S. postage stamps produced in 1978 or later are under the same restrictions.) If the use conforms, tag it with {{non-free stamp}}, and use {{subst:stamp rationale}} for the non-free use rationale. —teb728 t c 10:14, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

In most instances non-free stamps may only be used in stamp articles per WP:NFC#Images #3 unless there is sourced critical commentary about the stamp but just using it to show the subject is not allowed. Many such uses have been deleted. Also see Commons:Stamps/Public domain templates. ww2censor (talk) 12:23, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

In my case, that means effectively "no". Thanks, anyways. Your advice was very insightful.Ferox Seneca (talk) 16:35, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

how to upload pictures on wikipedia?

sir i wanted to know that how to upload photos or pictures on wikipedia while writing an article — Preceding unsigned comment added by Deepak dattreya shenoy (talk • contribs) 09:02, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

See Help:Files. —teb728 t c 09:19, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

File:Funweareyoung.jpg

Can you guys please help find the licensing for the image, I really don't know where else to find it as I already put all the information I could possibly find.

Thanks! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Raveonforever (talk • contribs) 22:52, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

I added the appropriate {{non-free album cover}} copyright tag to the image. A bot will reduce the size automatically to comply with the WP:NFCC criteria. ww2censor (talk) 22:59, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

IMage uploaded to Mendocino Music Festival

I uploaded a photo with permission from the photographer. His credit is embedded in the photo and that is why it is ok with him if I use it on our wikipedia page. Is that ok or do I need something else? Thanks much Andria Richey — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mendokitties (talk • contribs) 00:13, 12 February 2012 (UTC)

In order to be acceptable File:Mendocino-MF-tent-hirez-3041a-NWilsonPhotoCom.jpg would have to be licensed under a free license, which grants permission for modifications like the removal of the watermark. Permission for use only on Wikipedia or only unmodified is not acceptable. If that is acceptable to the photographer, handle the permission as described in WP:COPYREQ. —teb728 t c 02:15, 12 February 2012 (UTC)