Wikipedia:Media copyright questions

Media copyright questions
Welcome to the Media Copyright Questions page, a place for help with image copyrights, tagging, non-free content, and related questions. For all other questions please see Wikipedia:Questions. How to add a copyright tag to an existing image On the description page of the image (the one whose name starts File:), click Edit this page. From the page Wikipedia:File 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 an acceptable Creative Commons or other free license, or has released their image into the public domain, this permission must be documented. Please see Requesting copyright permission for more information. Type the name of the tag (e.g.; {{Cc-by-4.0}}), not forgetting {{ before and }} after, in the edit box on the image's description page. Remove any existing tag complaining that the image has no tag (for example, {{untagged}}) Hit Publish changes. If you still have questions, go on to "How to ask a question" below. How to ask a question To ask a new question hit the "Click here to start a new discussion" link below. Please sign your question by typing ~~~~ at the end. Check this page for updates, or request to be notified on your talk page. 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.
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Case for audio sample use in The Phenomenauts

Hello, I would like to make a case for including sample audio clips in The Phenomenauts. Is this the right place, or should I post somewhere else?

I have been reading and following the Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Music_samples. I have worked to comply with everything there. The Manual says "Music samples can be a valuable addition to articles about bands". My impression is that including sample audio clips is encouraged to help strengthen an article. Is that incorrect?

I have:

• Clipped the audio to 10% of the originial length
• Reduced the quality of each audio clip as specified in the MoS
• Added licensing information and a fair use rationale for each
• Worked to use a minimal number of samples to help comply with minimal use
• Used the articles inside a section that discuses each of them in turn, and relates them to the band and the subject of the article.
  • For example, the three clips used in the Musical style section cover and illustrate the range of the band's music - rockabilly, new wave, and fast punk drum beats. Each of these is discussed in the section.
  • The audio clip used in the Promoting science and learning section is the band's motto, that consolidates their view on promoting science and learning. It is discussed in the section where it is most appropriate and related.

I have been looking at other example band articles, such as Tool_(band). This is a Featured Article that also makes use of sample audio clips. I have worked to incorporate them and use a small number to match. The MoS Music samples page also points to Love._Angel._Music._Baby., a Featured Article that uses audio clips.

The audio clips were recently removed. I would like to achieve consensus here and make a case that their use in the article is appropriate and justified.

Thanks for reading. --Culix (talk) 05:59, 8 June 2018 (UTC)

@Seraphimblade: Hi Seraphimblade, since you proposed that the audio clips should be removed, I just wanted to add a note here in case you are interested in discussing it. Please do not feel obligated but I would highly welcome your feedback. Pardon the ping. --Culix (talk) 06:03, 8 June 2018 (UTC)

That many audio clips is highly excessive. It's possible one could be justifiable to show what the band sounds like, if supported by references, but we don't even use five in The Beatles. And these guys ain't The Beatles. Seraphimblade ^{Talk to me} 07:51, 15 June 2018 (UTC)

Thank you for the reply. I will re-examine the references and critical commentary to see what is the most relevant to see if there is a case.

Does it seem like Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Music_samples could use some clarification on the suggested number of samples that should be used? Or perhaps suggestions on how to determine what is appropriate? To me, reading "Music samples can be a valuable addition to articles about bands", as well as "There is no limit to the number of samples that can be used in one article" makes it sound at first that editors are free to choose the number of samples to include. Linking to Love._Angel._Music._Baby.#Songs as the canonical example seems to support using multiple files, since it uses three.

If the intended goal is much lower (e.g. if we think it should normally be zero), that feels useful to note. Perhaps we also want to include suggestions on determining notability and relevance.

I may write something up on Wikipedia_talk:Manual_of_Style/Music_samples to see if clarification would help. Then the discussion doesn't risk being auto-archived. --Culix (talk) 03:44, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

@Seraphimblade: Okay, I have made some edits. Do you have time to take a look? The strongest case might be for the song "Mission". This song was released after the band added a fifth member playing keyboard. It is an example of their synth/new wave style, incorporating keyboard sounds.

The song has received commentary from reviewers, such as saying it "added an extra layer" of sound to the band. I have incorporated commentary into the article, such as a reviewer saying that the song in particular was "an excellent example" of versatility, as well as talking about how the song incorporated styles from several music genres (second paragraph).

The song was notable for being included on the Warped Tour 2005 compilation CD. The music video for the song was also on the front page of both YouTube and Myspace back in 2006, where it received several hundred thousand views. It is also the shortest of the audio clips I had created, at 14 or 15 seconds.

How is that? Does this seem like a stronger/strong enough case for meeting contextual significance? I am happy to make further edits if that will help. I will continue to review the sources and think about this in the meantime. --Culix (talk) 05:03, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo

What was the problem with the audio file here exactly? Many thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 10:52, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Hi Martinevans123. The file was removed by JJMC89 most likely because the non-free use rationale for its use in the article claims that some of the non-free content use criteria are n.a. (non-applicable). For reference, there are ten non-free content use criteria and each of them must be satisfied for each use of a non-free file; so, techinically there are no "non-applicable criteria". JJMC89 can probably clarify this, but I believe you just need to flesh out the non-free use rationale a bit more to more clearly explain how all of the criteria are being met. -- Marchjuly (talk) 12:05, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Many thanks for explaining. That was one of my earliest audio uploads (2010) when I was a lot less adept or knowledgeable. I've updated the rationale now and I hope that will be suitable. I'll await clarification from JJMC89. Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 12:18, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

(edit conflict)@Martinevans123: It was remove because there was no rationale for Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo, only Georgie Fame. Now that you've updated it, there is no rationale for the latter. Also, WP:NFCC are never not applicable (new rationale has |Replaceability=n.a. and |Commercial=n.a.). — JJMC89 (T·C) 16:31, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Georgie Fame

What was the problem with this audio file here exactly? Many thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 16:29, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

See above. — JJMC89 (T·C) 16:31, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Very sorry, but I have no idea what you mean. You seem to be telling me that the format of the NFCC template has now changed. I'm really not sure how to correct either rationale to be compliant. At the end of the day it's exactly the same audio sample. Martinevans123 (talk) 22:04, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Are you saying the statement for the sample at Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo is now acceptable? If so, could you restore it? Are you saying that it can only be used in one of those two articles? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 22:16, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

Off-hand, I can't imagine any other article where its use would meet our stringent restrictions on the use of non-free files. --Orange Mike | Talk 23:27, 16 June 2018 (UTC)

You replaced the original rationale, which was for Georgie Fame, with one for Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo. A non-free image must have a rationale for each article it is to be used in (WP:NFCC#10c). The current rational has |Replaceability=n.a. and |Commercial=n.a., indicating those criteria are not applicable; however, all NFCC are always applicable. Therefore, the current rationale doesn't support use in any article. If those two items are completed, then it could be acceptable in Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo. — JJMC89 (T·C) 02:03, 17 June 2018 (UTC)

I have now adjusted those two fields. But from what is written below, that may make no difference whatsoever? Martinevans123 (talk) 15:26, 17 June 2018 (UTC)

Actually neither of the two uses complies with our strict non-free policy which must comply with all 10 criteria and neither article has any critical commentary about the song. File:Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames Do The Dog excerpt.ogg also need to comply with the guidelines found at Wikipedia:Non-free content#Audio clips. Normally non-free use is allowable in article about the topic itself but there is no such article for the song. I know it has been around for some years but that is no reason to keep it if it fails our policy. I'm inclined to nominate it for deletion unless someone writes an article about the song itself or writes some sourced critical commentary about the song in the Georgie Fame article. To me it fails any likely use in Rhythm and Blues at the Flamingo as neither the song nor the album were "commercially unsuccessful" so there is little possibility of justifying it use there which already use a non-free image. ww2censor (talk) 09:19, 17 June 2018 (UTC)

ww2censor, could you clarify what you mean above - that article says quite clearly that both it and the single were "commercially unsuccessful"? There seems to be some dispute here about whether that clip can be used in any article. If I had known this 10 years ago I could probably have wasted a lot less time adding audio clips to quite a few other articles. I was under the mistaken impression that they added to an "understanding" of the artist/ album concerned. (Take, for example, the audio clips at Van der Graaf Generator, added with the agreement of User:Ritchie333 and which is currently rated a Good Article; presumably they must all be removed also?) I'm also still unsure as to what constitutes "commercially successful". I'm still none the wiser as to whether or not a single audio file can be used to illustrate two different articles. From what you say above, about a sample being valid only for an article about a song, that would seen to be impossible. I'm also left wondering if there is any place for such music clips at Wikipedia. Martinevans123 (talk) 15:17, 17 June 2018 (UTC)

Would someone care to provide a definitive summary and conclusion here?? Many thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 07:01, 19 June 2018 (UTC)

Martinevans123: I already stated the usual uses of non-free media and if the song does not have its own article them maybe it is just not notable enough to warrant one. If it was commercially unsuccessful then it probably is not notable unless there was some controversy about it or something else that makes it stand out. It would be a pity to have wasted effort on work that may be deleted but it happens, even years afterwards. Unfortunately other stuff exist is not a reason to keep other similar things. If you want to use such an audio file to show some of an artist's style you will need to provide some critical commentary about the song, per WP:NFCC#8, but it needs to be supported by published reliable sources. I don't see that this clip can satisfy WP:NFCC. ww2censor (talk) 22:07, 21 June 2018 (UTC)

ww2censor, yes I saw what you wrote, many thanks. I was asking for clarification, because what you said seemed to be slightly at odds with what JJMC89 said. I've also been discussing this with User:Ojorojo, who tells me there is now a new format for audio clips. Do you mean if the album wasn't sufficiently successful, or the song itself? And how does one make that judgement - is there a criterion? Are the requirements for critical commentary different between articles for artists and albums? Can the same clip be used in more than one article? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 07:11, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

It would be very useful if you could point to one or two exemplar cases where there are no issues over fair use justification. Many thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 06:56, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

ww2censor, so it seems an audio sample may be used, not only in an article that is not about the song itself, but even in more than one article, e.g. File:Electricity.ogg, yes? Was "Electricity" a song that was "commercially successful"? Thanks. Martinevans123 (talk) 15:51, 28 June 2018 (UTC)

File:Goody two shoes cigarette ad.jpg

I am concerned this non-free image is also a copyright violation. The image does not appear to satisfy WP:NFCC#8. QuackGuru (talk) 16:20, 18 June 2018 (UTC)

• Removed. A clear NFCC violation, since the discussion was centered on the brief text in the ad, not requiring depiction of the accompanying image; moreover, the discussion was pure OR, unsupported by sourced analysis. The Big Bad Wolfowitz (aka Hullaballoo). Treated like dirt by many administrators since 2006. (talk) 15:57, 20 June 2018 (UTC)
  • You removed it but it is still on Wikipedia. I recommend it be nominated for deletion. QuackGuru (talk) 16:06, 20 June 2018 (UTC)
    • It's subject to automatic deletion as an unused file in a week or so. Meanwhile, if the uploader finds properly sourced commentary on the image itself. it could be restored. No point in wasting the community's time in a deletion process unless someone comes forward to defend the image's use. The Big Bad Wolfowitz (aka Hullaballoo). Treated like dirt by many administrators since 2006. (talk) 16:53, 20 June 2018 (UTC)
      • The other image is no longer in the article. I deleted it. There was no properly sourced commentary on the image itself for the other image. QuackGuru (talk) 16:46, 21 June 2018 (UTC)

Image from German Wikipedia - File:Troccas-0-der-narr.jpg

Hi, I've imported the above image from German Wikipedia and copied the summary info across. I've also credited the German user who uploaded it. Is there anything else I need to do to? Is there an 'automated' way of transferring these images from German Wiki I can use? Thanks. Bermicourt (talk) 17:01, 20 June 2018 (UTC)

Bermicourt: Why copy it here when it could be available to all language wikis if you uploaded it to the commons instead? ww2censor (talk) 18:55, 20 June 2018 (UTC)

Ww2censor: Because it has a tag on German Wiki saying "do not transfer to Commons without an individual review" and so the commonshelper tool I use to do that won't work. I don't know why it's tagged when we know the creator died in 1851, so copyright presumably expired in 1951 or earlier. I'm assuming good faith, of course, on the part of the German user who uploaded it. Bermicourt (talk) 19:13, 20 June 2018 (UTC)

Bermicourt: that's curious as it seems to be out of copyright so a reviewer could have reviewed it before uploading to the commons. You could tag it {{move to commons}}. ww2censor (talk) 09:45, 21 June 2018 (UTC)

FlightRadar 24 screenshots use

Hello! Just to be sure - are FlightRadar screenshots allowed to be posted? My guess is not, since the map overlay is probably Google's, right? Just to be sure... (I was unable to find this topic anywhere in Commons discussions, hence this question.) --GeXeS (talk) 09:12, 21 June 2018 (UTC)

Correct, not usable. No indication anywhere that the maps would be under a free-license. – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 14:30, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

File:Youth Olympic Games.svg

Was wondering if this needs to be non-free. The Olympic Games ring imagery seems to be PD, and the text is not really eligible for copyright protection. Could the frame/box imagery be considered creative enough to be copyright protected? -- Marchjuly (talk) 00:24, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

BBFC film classification logos

Is there any reason why File:BBFC PG.svg, File:BBFC 12.svg and File:BBFC 18.svg need to be treated as non-free and not {{PD-ineligible-USonly}} like File:BBFC 12 1989-2002.png and File:BBFC 18 1982-2002.png? Also, its not clear why File:BBFC 15 1982-2002.png and File:PG-12.png need separate rationales/licenses for the UK and US. If Wikipedia is going to treat the files locally as PD-ineligible-USonly, then complying with WP:NFCCP shouldn't be a concern. If, on the other hand, there is some reason why the files need to comply with the NFCCP, then most of the ways they are currently being used aren't policy compliant. -- Marchjuly (talk) 01:10, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Personal Photos Being Deleted

Hi

I realized many photos that I have uploaded to Wikipedia have been deleted. The comments vary from "the image is an unused duplicate or lower-quality copy", "the image is non-free and may only be used used in any articles on Wikipedia" etc, see attached long list of items.

I am new to making edits but those photos are of my personal contribution which I have endorsed for Wikipedia's use only and of high quality when I uploaded them. They have been changed to lower quality and ultimately deleted/ removed. Frankly, I have no idea on how to continue making updates as I have put in a lot of effort but in the end, most of the information have been wiped out. Please look into my case, thank you so much.

Warmest Regards — Preceding unsigned comment added by Zenchua (talk • contribs)

Hi Zenchua. It's generally OK to upload personal photos under a free license as long as they are of things which are not still under copyright protection and that copyright is held by another person; for example, you take a personal picture of the sunset and upload that to Wikipedia if you want, but you can't necessarily take a photograph of a magazine or book cover, etc. and do the same thing. In other words, unless you actually hold the copyright over the magazine or book cover you photographing, you can't automatically claim copyright ownership over it even if you have physical ownership of the book or magazine. What you've created might be considered a WP:DERIVATIVE in some cases, but the copyright of the original content being photographed typically still needs to be considered.

Wikipedia does, however, allow certain types of copyrighted content to be uploaded locally as non-free content. The permission of the original copyright holder is not needed for such files, but what type of files may be uploaded and how these files may subsequently be used is highly restricted by Wikipedia's non-free content use policy, and files which don't staisfy this policy can be removed or deleted as needed. Generally, non-free files are required to be low resolution per non-free content use criterion 3, so that probably explains why the high quality versions you uploaded were reduced in some way. Non-free files are also required to satisfy nine other non-free content use criteria for each use, so that probably explains why the files were removed. I'm going to ping Nthep and Stefan2 since they appear to be two of the editors who added image notifications to your user talk page or removed files and maybe they can provide more specific details about individual images.

Finally, from your username and the fact that most of the images you've uploaded appear to be to Morgan Chua, I am wondering if you might be connected to him in some personal or professional way. If this is the case, then most likely you have what is know as a "conflict of interest" or "COI" with respect to anything written about him on Wikipedia, and thus should take a look at Wikipedia:Conflict of interest. The Wikipedia community doesn't expressly prohibit COI editing, but it does highly discourage it with good reason, and COI editors are expected to adhere to relevant policies and guidelines when they edit. So, the more familiar you're with these policies and guidelines, the fewer problems you're likely to encunter. -- Marchjuly (talk) 21:23, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Hi Marchjuly,

Those photos are of my personal collection which I’m willing to share and are not copyrighted. Also, those covers are designed by Morgan Chua, the ownership belongs to him since the publishers have eased production and the covers are more than 30-45 years ago.

Regards — Preceding unsigned comment added by Zenchua (talk • contribs) 05:35, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

I'm not sure if copyrights of magazine covers, etc. automatically become void when the magazine, etc. itself ceases publication, even after 30-45 years. It's possible that someone else may still hold the copyright or share copyright ownership of them even if Chua designed them. Maybe another editor can clarify this for you. Even still, if they're not under copyright any longer, then most likely Wikipedia is not going to be able to accept non-free photos of them per Non-free content use criterion #1 just because somone else might possibly be able to take a similar photo and release it under a free license for the photo and and a Template:PD-URAA Template:PD-US-no notice or some other suitable license for the cover image, or find an image of the cover online or somewhere else and do basically the same thing.

One last thing about adding images to articles that has nothing to do with copyright licenses. Adding an image is like adding textual content in that it's OK to be WP:BOLD, but another editor may subsequently remove the image because they feel it's not encyclopedically relevant to the reader. The thing to do then would be to start a discussion on the relevant article's talk page per WP:BRD and try to work through the dispute. A consensus may be need to be establish for including a particular image in the article even if its licensing is not an issue. Wikipedia articles are not intended to be image galleries so to speak, so too many images might be seen as excessive by some.

Finally, you should clarify if there's any connection between you and Chua because this will make it much easier to try and help you when it comes to editing that article. The description of File:Morgan Chua.jpg says that Chua has a sone named "Zen Chua", so if that's you then please clarify. -- Marchjuly (talk) 07:49, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

• I nominated File:Morgan Chua Wing Chun 2014.jpg for deletion because you had also uploaded a different copy of the same file: File:Morgan Chua HK 2014.jpg. There is no need for two identical copies of the same file, so one of them was deleted.

Another note: Per WP:NFCC#10a, non-free files should have a source. File:Photo of Morgan Chua (Courtesy of SPH).jpg lists the source as 'SPH' but it doesn't say who or what SPH is, so I think that the source needs to be improved.

It seems that User:Nthep removed several images from the Morgan Chua article and that User:Diannaa removed some text from the article. They might be able to explain to you what they did and why they did so. Generally, we seek to avoid using too much non-free content. --Stefan2 (talk) 11:51, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

I removed some quotations. There were about 700 words of quotations in a 1500-word article, nearly half the article. This is excessive, as our non-free content policy requires us for the most part to write articles in our own words and use quotations sparingly and selectively and only when there's no alternative. — Diannaa 🍁 (talk) 14:14, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

@Zenchua: you say above "Those photos are of my personal collection which I’m willing to share and are not copyrighted" however you have uploaded them all as non-free content and in my opinion the use of all of these in one article fails WP:NFCC#3a - "Multiple items of non-free content are not used if one item can convey equivalent significant information." It doesn't take multiple illustrations of Chua's work to illustrate his style. Neither do images like File:Morgan Chua Bruce 2014.jpg add anything to the reader's knowledge. So there are two issues to my mind:

1. Who is the copyright holder for each image, and if they are out of copyright why have the images not been uploaded as such,
2. If they aren't out of copyright how does multiple use assist the reader is understanding Chua's style. Nthep (talk) 21:27, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

Rape in the United States has included copyvio for nine years; is revdel still the solution?

Hijiri88 (talk · contribs) here. Posting this logged out to avoid the attention of the article's creator, who has an uncomfortable history with me because of my tagging a bunch of their edits for close paraphrasing giving the impression of "hounding", and I have a serious question that I think probably needs answering without being dragged down by drama. If anyone else wants to notify the creator as a courtesy, fire ahead. I'll probably post here logged in once my question is answered.

Basically most of the text of the first edit was lifted from this source without being marked as a quotation, and this text is largely still intact in the "Investigations" section. The offending text can be removed or paraphrased no problem, but do the 550+ edits that have been made in the article's nine-year history and include non-free text all need to be revdelled? I've seen this done with new articles, or obscure niche articles that have been around for a while but no one edited them, but ... here ...

182.251.140.243 (talk) 09:10, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

One suggestion would be to carefully re-draft the article without the copyvio. ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 13:09, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Just remove or rewrite the copyvio. WP:RD1 requires that revdel use not remove the attribution of legitimate contributors. One may argue that this rule is not always obeyed, but IMO it makes hiding all 550+ edits to the article inappropriate. BethNaught (talk) 15:26, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

BethNaught, RD1 does not remove the attribution unless it removes the username. Our license allows for attribution by simple list, and admins can always see the diffs, which is why this is a non-issue. This is common practice for decade old copyvio (see William H. Keeler as an example). That being said, this doesn’t need RD1 in my opinion because there were limited ways of phrasing it. It falls within discretion and since it’s arguably limited close paraphrase, RD1 in these circumstances might be overkill. TonyBallioni (talk) 16:46, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

• @Hijiri88: MCQ typically deals with media copyright issues. Problems with copyrighted text probably should be taken care of per WP:COPYVIO. So, if the answers you've gotten so far aren't exactly what you were looking for, you might also try asking for help at WP:CP. -- Marchjuly (talk) 21:42, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Well, the above answers have sufficed so it's kinda moot, but ... arrgh ... I was interpreting the "non-free content" at the top of this page as covering text as well. Hijiri 88 (聖やや) 22:22, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

• @TonyBallioni: You did tell him not to do this. [1] You were quite specific. Dream Focus 23:25, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

And the above is exactly why I originally posted logged out. DF has already been censured by overwhelming community consensus for this "stop hounding me" (ironic that he immediately noticed when I posted here while logged in), "I never violated copyright shut up", "you are insane", "you are a deletionist and hate ARS and want to destroy it" harassment, and really should be more careful about continuing it immediately after the thread was closed. Could someone now close this so it won't continue here? Hijiri 88 (聖やや) 23:39, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

You put things between quotation marks and people will assume I actually said those words. That is misleading people. The administrator said "he should try to avoid your contributions and shouldn't seek them out." You violated his instructions. Dream Focus 23:41, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

It would be nice if editors could write without using Wiki-jargon so that more folks could understand and make suggestions. Thanks for listening. Some of these abbreviations confuse me even though I have BeenAroundAWhile (talk) 01:33, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

While I agree the excessive jargon is probably counterproductive, most of what's used above are just short-cut links to relevant pages with the alternative being to write out the entire page name as the link instead. Clicking on the links will take you to a page where more details can be found. Of the ones which don't appear to have been linked, "MCQ" is the short-cut link for this particular noticeboard, "copyvio" refers to "copyright violation", and "revdel" refers to "revision deletion" as mentioned in WP:RD1. Using shorthand such as this is often done on noticeboards perhaps since its assumed (maybe mistakenly and maybe too much) that those participating are more than likely to understand it, but asking for clarification when you don't is perfectly fine. For what it's worth (FWIW), similar shorthand is often used in edit sums (perhaps you've done so yourself ) for the sake of brevity, with links being provided instead to more detailed pages. -- Marchjuly (talk) 05:41, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

Australian images and URAA

This is a backlogged category: Category:PD-Australia_images_with_unknown_US_copyright_status_for_over_30_days,

What would the feasibility of just converting them to NFCC style images be? ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 13:08, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

Do you mean with a realistic chance of keeping them? Or converting them to speedyable non-free files that lack valid rationales? – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 14:29, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

With full rationales obviously. ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 16:05, 24 June 2018 (UTC)

I'm afraid it can't be automated, as these images have various different kinds of uses. Some might be valid, probably most are invalid. Some of them are pretty standard (ie. a more or less boilerplate rationale will do), others are stretching it and need carefully written rationales. It's probably impossible to tell which are which by automated means only. If we'd be able to narrow it down to those used in infoboxes/top of articles, those are probably the ones worth keeping and easiest to justify. – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 15:18, 25 June 2018 (UTC)

I reviewed several images that were clearly pre-1923 published images, mostly postcards, so they can be moved to the commons but the rest need detailed review. ww2censor (talk) 18:56, 25 June 2018 (UTC)

Naturally this can't be automated. A bot for automatically generating FUR has been proposed before and strongly rejected. ShakespeareFan00 (talk) 08:11, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

File:John Doubleday with the Portland Vase.jpg

Would someone please advise as to the correct copyright tag for this work? It's an 1845 photograph that appears to have been first published in 1989 (i.e., 144 years after creation). I thought the current tag, PD-old-70-1923, would work because there is virtually no way that the photographer would have been alive 70 years ago (i.e., 103 years after taking the photograph), but this was called into question at FAC. Is there some sort of unpublished tag that would work instead? From what I can glean online, the photograph would have passed into the public domain in 1965, 120 years after creations. Thanks, --Usernameunique (talk) 21:52, 22 June 2018 (UTC)

The 120 years from creation rule is not to be used for anything published before 2003. Furthermore, you are making the error of looking at the section for unpublished works on this page. Once a work becomes published, you should instead look at the correct section for published works. Note that US law didn't allow unpublished works to enter the public domain at all before 2003.

If it was first published between 1 March and 31 December 1989, then the copyright expires in 2048. See c:COM:HIRTLE, "Date of Publication" = "1 March 1989 through 2002", "Conditions" = "Created before 1978 and first published in this period". The copyright term is "The greater of the term specified in the previous entry or 31 December 2047" - and 31 December 2047 is greater than the term in the previous entry, so that's what you should use.

If it was first published between 1 January and 28 February 1989, then you need to figure out whether the book had a valid copyright notice (or whether the book was registered with the United States Copyright Office within five years from publication). If there was a copyright notice or registration, then the copyright term still expires in 2048. If there was neither a copyright notice nor a registration, then it's in the public domain (use {{PD-1996}}).

What makes you believe that this wasn't published anywhere before it appeared in that book? Where did the book author find the image? Was the author in contact with people (such as relatives) who might have previously unpublished photos, or was the author only using other pre-existing publications as references? --Stefan2 (talk) 17:58, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

Trademark vs. copyright and lots of logos at Tectoy

Hi all, I haven't been super-active on Wikipedia in a while and could use some guidance on logo copyright as I clean up an article. I'm working on a complete rewrite of Tectoy, a Brazilian company, and the editors before have added not one, not two, but three different logos of the company, and all of them are tagged as copyrighted. My question to the copyright experts here:

• I can see the image in the infobox should be copyrighted, but wouldn't the last image on the page be trademarked but only a logo in typeface and therefore not copyrighted?
• Would the first individual image be copyrighted? It appears to me that it should because I think it's more than just typeface, but it's basically typeface extending from a center point in 3D.
• Does the fact that these logos are from Brazil and a Brazilian company affect the copyright/trademark status?
• Depending on these answers, is it excessive to use all three images as they are, or should one or two be removed to meet the minimal use criterion of WP:NFCC? Worthy of note is that the first image in the prose, the one with the 3D logo, is one of the most important self-identifying logos because of the number of Sega products marked with that logo in the area.

I appreciate your feedback. Thank you, Red Phoenix ^talk 16:02, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

The second and third logos are 100% {{PD-textlogo}}. Without a doubt. Those can be changed over and probably transferred over to Commons, although a non-.JPG version would be preferable for display on Wikipedia articles. As for the first one, I'm on the fence. Brazil actually has a higher threshold of originality than the US does so it is probably PD in Brazil. But it is probably below that bar in the US and therefore copyrightable here. So if it is copyrightable here it should stay under fair use. Trademarks don't matter as they are non-copyright restrictions. --Majora (talk) 16:36, 23 June 2018 (UTC)

Please, take a look

To patrollers and administrators,

Please, take a look at File:Danish Order of Freemasons (Den Danske Frimurerorden) - logo.png#Licensing:

"To patrollers and administrators: If this image has an 'appropriate' rationale please append |image has rationale=yes as a parameter to the license template."

If the rationale is okay, please mark it so. --PetersenAndersen (talk) 02:04, 24 June 2018 (UTC)

Ex Librio William Roughead

I have a book from 1917 that has a Ex Librio William Roughead label in the front. It's a rather nice design. Can I upload it under {{PD-US-1923-abroad}}, or is there enough ambiguity that I shouldn't?

That said, I doublechecked, and the image on the label is dated: 1907 R. Home. Adam Cuerden ^(talk) 16:25, 24 June 2018 (UTC)

Ex libris are not published, so {{PD-US-1923-abroad}} doesn't apply. – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 21:29, 24 June 2018 (UTC)

Samples of Debbie Harry songs

I noticed most of our articles about Debbie Harry's singles (see Template:Debbie Harry) have an audio sample in the infobox. This may be controversial, but I think in most of these cases (11 out of 17), our use does not comply with WP:NFCC#8, because the article does not actually discuss the portion sampled. Thus, the sample does not significantly help the reader understand the article and merely is WP:DECORATIVE. Here's a list of the audio samples (all uploaded by Dreamer.se, with a generic fair use rationale for each), and my analysis of each (quoting from the article where appropriate):

• File:Debbie Harry - Backfired.ogg on Backfired: Keep, "male back-up vocals on the song", "this time delving more into funk music"
• File:Debbie Harry - The Jam Was Moving.ogg on The Jam Was Moving: Delete, "featuring additional guitars during the intro", but the intro is not the portion sampled
• File:Debbie Harry - Chrome.ogg on Chrome (Debbie Harry song): Delete, text only discusses chart performance
• File:Debbie Harry - Rush Rush.ogg on Rush Rush (Debbie Harry song): Keep, "reference to drug use, 'llello' being a Spanish colloquialism for cocaine."
• File:Debbie Harry - Feel The Spin.ogg on Feel the Spin: Delete, text only discusses authorship, chart performance, and film use
• File:Debbie Harry - French Kissin'.ogg on French Kissin (song): Delete, text only discusses authorship, chart performance, and film use
• File:Debbie Harry - Free To Fall.ogg on Free to Fall: Delete, "The line '...sinking in the sea of love' was used previously in a Blondie song", but this is not the portion sampled
• File:Debbie Harry - In Love With Love.ogg on In Love with Love: Keep, "Lyrically, the song is the sequel to Blondie's 'Heart of Glass', according to Harry."
• File:Debbie Harry - Liar Liar.ogg on Liar, Liar (The Castaways song): Delete, "Guitarist Robert Folschow contributed the distinctive falsetto vocal on 'Liar, Liar'", but this refers to the original version
• File:Deborah Harry - I Want That Man.ogg on I Want That Man: Keep, "written about the actor Harry Dean Stanton."
• File:Deborah Harry - Kiss Is Better.ogg on Kiss It Better (Deborah Harry song): Delete, text only discusses chart performance and a "double A-side single in Australia"
• File:Deborah Harry - Brite Side.ogg on Brite Side: Delete, text only discusses chart performance and TV use
• File:Deborah Harry - Sweet And Low.ogg on Sweet and Low (Deborah Harry song): Delete, see "Kiss It Better" above
• File:Deborah Harry - Maybe For Sure.ogg on Maybe for Sure: Keep, "reworked version of the song 'Angel's Song', from the 1983 animated film Rock & Rule"
• File:Deborah Harry - I Can See Clearly.ogg on I Can See Clearly: Delete, text only states genre and mentions chart performance
• File:Deborah Harry - Strike Me Pink.ogg on Strike Me Pink: Keep, since the quoted critical commentary applies to the portion sampled
• File:Debbie Harry - Two Times Blue.ogg on Two Times Blue: Delete, text only states genre, mentions chart performance and "Various official remixes were released to promote the single"

(Also, probably at least some of these samples are too long, because 30 second samples, as a rule of thumb, are only allowed for songs "5:00 and longer", according to Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Music samples#What is the maximum length permitted?.)

Before I formally request deletion of the 11 files listed above, I ask: do I understand NFCC #8 correctly, as it applies to these audio samples? I'm skeptical of the notion that including one sample per single is generally allowed because it (arguably) illustrates the "Genre" listed in the infobox. And for any such files that should be deleted, would it be most appropriate to use {{dfu}}, {{di-fails NFCC}}, {{prod}}, {{ffd}} (since, if I remember correctly, these issues tend to be controversial), or simply remove usage and allow the files to be removed as unused non-free media? PleaseStand (talk) 04:34, 26 June 2018 (UTC)

File:Aamir khan signature.jpg

Wondering if this needs to be treated as non-free or can it be converted to PD per c:COM:SIG. If it needs to stay non-free, then I cannot see how it complies with WP:NFCCP in anything other than a stand-alone article about the signature itself. -- Marchjuly (talk) 04:14, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

Verifying copyright

I have received a message regarding uploading a photograph I took and in which I own copyright.

There is no explanation as to how I reply, or how I verify the copyright position — Preceding unsigned comment added by Djc Thomson (talk • contribs) 19:23, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

Assuming this is about File:SSC lounge.jpeg, you must choose to release it under one or more free licenses. I suggest adding the following bit of wikitext to the page: {{Self|cc-by-sa-4.0}}. – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 21:53, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

Actually, you've done it right at Commons. The duplicate file here can be deleted. – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 21:55, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

(edit conflict)@Djc Thomson: A notification was left at User talk:Djc Thomson#File source and copyright licensing problem with File:SSC lounge.jpeg explaining what needs to be done. However, you seem to have already uploaded the same file to Wikimedia Commons as File:SSC Lounge and consulting room.jpg. Assuming this is now resolved, the one you uploaded to Wikipedia is no longer needed and can probably be deleted. Another editor has tagged the file with {{Now Commons}} which means it will eventually be deleted per WP:F8, so you don't really need to do anything more. -- Marchjuly (talk) 22:07, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

However: Djc Thomson, you should add a better description to the commons image rather than Photograph taken 31st May 2018 that just duplicates the date field info, and please give it some categories, otherwise no one will likely find it or use it. Thanks ww2censor (talk) 22:25, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

Not for the first time, I have no idea what you propose by "better description to the commons image". What on Earth are you proposing I do and why? Also "explaining what needs to be done". Really? Did you think that message gave clear easy to follow advice and a simple user-friendly mechanism to reply? I would completely disagree. I found the message incomprehensible and had no idea where to turn for advice. Until this evening I had never heard of Wikimedia Commons. Having posted two pictures I no longer need to use it. What do you say I have done wrong?Djc Thomson (talk) 22:48, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

@Djc Thomson: The notification added to your user talk page was a general template explaining what the issue was and providing links (the words in blue) to relevant pages where you can find more detailed information. For sure, such templates can be confusing when you see them for the first time, so it's OK to ask for clarification if you there's something you don't understand. It's possible that the person (ShakespeareFan00) who added the template didn't notice your subsequent question. Sometimes editors are WP:BUSY and might not be able to respond right away or sometimes they just might not be watching every page they edit. It can help to WP:PING another editor when you want them to reply, or to post something directly on their user talk page, but sometimes you have to just be patient and wait for them to respond. If your in need of an faster response, you can try a community noticeboard like this, try adding the template {{Help me}} to your user talk page, or try asking at the Wikipedia Teahouse.

As for the "better description" suggested by Ww2censor, I think that means adding info about the "who" and "what" in addtion to the "when" to the file's descritpion. So instead of just stating the photo taken on 31st May 2018, maybe state what the photo shows or where it was taken since that will make it much easier for others who might want to use. This also applies to adding "categories" to the file's page. Files uploaded to Commons are categorized in various ways because this makes it easier for others looking for certain type of files to find them. It's possible for another editor to add a description and categories, but the person uploading the file usually is in the best position to do this.

Finally, the people posting here are trying to help you in good-faith. You seem to be a fairly new editor, so nobody is going to expect you to know every policy or guideline for Wikipedia or Wikimedia Commons. Every editor gets frustrated, but try and understand that nobody is purposely trying to mislead you or make things more difficult for you. -- Marchjuly (talk) 23:53, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

That may be your view, but I have found the advice thus far less than helpful. I tried, at the request of the SSC Council, to upgrade the Society's page and related pages. As soon as I moved from text I found myself assailed with difficultis, the most obvious of which are (1) the absence of any obvious "reply" function to messages, this not being remotely user-friendly, and (2) the patronising assumption that I would understand everything. It took me around two hours to work out how to reply to Mr Fan00. I could not locate any communication Board and certainly would never have thought of "Teahouse".Djc Thomson (talk) 16:12, 29 June 2018 (UTC)

NFCC and non-free coats of arms/substitutes

Hello all.

For a while now, some of the biography articles of the Presidents of Sri Lanka have featured the Presidential Standard, which essentially functions as a coat of arms for each individual president here in Sri Lanka (see, for instance, this letterhead used by former President Mahinda Rajapakse, or this used by current President Maithripala Sirisena).

Some of these Standards were hosted on Wikipedia with a fair-use license, with the rationale that they, being coats of arms, needed to be on the BLP article concerned (see: File:Presidential standard- Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.gif). Others (see: File:Presidential Standard of Sri Lanka (Maithripala Sirisena).svg) have been deemed to fail the criteria for copyrightability and are hosted on Commons.

My question here is, given that NFCC rules are to be applied on a case-by-case basis, whether the non-free files are allowed to stay on Wikipedia (and of course, in the articles), given their application as a coat of arms of an officeholder? - ක - (talk) 19:30, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

Lawrence L. Shenfield

I have been asked to put a license tag on the photo uploaded of Lawrence L. Shenfield. What tag should I use? This photograph was found among Mr. Shenfield's personal effect upon his death in 1974. — Preceding unsigned comment added by C08040804 (talk • contribs) 23:17, 27 June 2018 (UTC)

Verifying fair use rationale

To patrollers and administrators,

Please, take a look at File:Danish Order of Freemasons (Den Danske Frimurerorden) - logo.png#Licensing:

"To patrollers and administrators: If this image has an 'appropriate' rationale please append |image has rationale=yes as a parameter to the license template."

If the rationale is okay, please mark it so. --PetersenAndersen (talk).

 Done by another editor. ww2censor (talk) 09:48, 29 June 2018 (UTC)

Fair use rationale Ethan Couch

To Patrollers and Administrators,

Please provide feedback, guidance, approval or disapproval with reasoning for this file File:Ethan Anthony Couch.png. I did post this dispute entry in the article's talk page concerning adding this image to the article. The image's file includes these completed templates: {{Non-free use rationale 2}}
{{ir-Mugshot}}
{{Non-free historic image}}

Here is the template {{di-disputed fair use rationale}} content posted by another editor on the image's file page:

"This file has a non-free use rationale that is disputed because of the following concern: Living person involved in high-profile public events. There are surely lots of images someone who owns one could choose to release, or someone could take a new picture.. Unless this concern is addressed by correcting any shortcomings in the non-free use rationale (templates such as Template:Non-free use rationale can assist in this), the file will be deleted or removed from some uses after Thursday, 5 July 2018."

I spent hours of research and there are no free image(s) of the article's subject.

Thank you,
Vwanweb (talk) 09:10, 29 June 2018 (UTC)

Vwanweb: This simply fails our strict non-free policy WP:NFCC#1 because he is alive, not a known recluse nor serving a life-sentence without possibility of parole. He has been released and therefore a freely licenced image can be made or maybe one exist from before his arrest. ww2censor (talk) 09:46, 29 June 2018 (UTC)

can i upload a link of website blog for the topic which is not found on wikipedia

can i upload a link of website blog for the topic which is not found on wikipedia. If i want to add the link on the reference part how it should be added. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Rinalp (talk • contribs) 11:21, 29 June 2018 (UTC)

Bow Wow Wow

I've recently done a lot of work on Bow Wow Wow articles. While editing Annabella Lwin's article, I added the Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe cover used for the album See Jungle! See Jungle! Go Join Your Gang Yeah, City All Over! Go Ape Crazy!, and it was removed, citing Fair use issues.

To me, this isn't a violation of fair use. I'm sticking with the subject matter of the band, and the controversy this cover caused. Malcolm McLaren caused controversy by having a fourteen year old girl photographed nude for the cover of her album. Why wouldn't that image be in that 14 year old girl's article?

I've been told to provide fair use rationale, but where would I do it? Edit the actual image itself to say, "It'll be in the articles about Bow Wow Wow, Annabella, and maybe someday someone might put it in the Le Déjeuner sur l’herbe article?

Follow up question: There are several Bow Wow Wow albums that weren't significant enough to merit their own articles. Would it be a violation of fair use to upload these images for inclusion in the band's article? Perhaps an image next to the paragraph where the album is referenced, or just a cover of one of the countless hits collections in the section of their article that is the discography. Specifically, I'd like to upload the image of the Bow Wow Wow album Original Recordings. Bow Wow Wow's first release was Your Cassette Pet, and as the title would suggest, it was only on cassette. They then changed labels, and after having moderate success on a new label, the old label released an album with all the music from Your Cassette Pet on vinyl. Whereas Original Recordings doesn't have an article, it's mentioned in the Your Cassette Pet article, and I'd like to include an image of it in this article. I mean, would that be all that big a crime? Johnny Spasm (talk) 11:58, 29 June 2018 (UTC)