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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(For help, see Wikipedia:Purge)

Link to videos on YouTube

I have a question regarding linking to videos on YouTube from an the Demos from the Basement article. The videos are unnofficial, and consist of a music track over a still image [1]. I understand that linking to an unnofficial video is not allowed due to copyright, however the question here is whether these songs are indeed copyrighted. They are from a demo album of which only a limited number (200 I think) were made and distributed for free, which has led some to believe that they are not copyrighted. Personally, I still believe that there would be a copyright associated with these songs even though they were given away. Thus, my query is basically are these songs copyrighted and can we link to these videos or not? Cheers Nouse4aname (talk) 09:08, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I tend to agree with you on this one. The fact they were given away for free doesn't mean anything. My guess is they are still copyrighted. Just my opinion though. Landon1980 (talk) 16:56, 1 June 2008 (UTC)

Let's just let the admins answer this. --Pwnage8 (talk) 23:54, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Can anyone point to where it's documented that they gave the songs away? I can't seem to verify the protection one way or the other, so the automatic assumption is that it is protected and those videos would be copyvio's and unlinkable. "Giving the CD's away for free" is not the same thing as releasing the songs with a free license (public domain, GFDL, etc). Generally speaking, it's not likely they were placed in the public domain, it's more likely they were released for promotional purposes (which usually still has a copyright). Remember, copyright protection is automatic, a free license releasing it must be explicit. – Zedla (talk) 00:16, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

If I'm reading Image:Used_demo.jpg correctly, I see a "(C) Copyright 2001" notice there, case closed... – Zedla (talk) 00:27, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Then how come I keep seeing videos linked in album articles? --Pwnage8 (talk) 00:47, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Example? Problems in other articles don't mean they can be repeated here. In this case it's clearly a copyright violation on youtube. – Zedla (talk) 02:20, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

They are music videos though. Maybe that's different. I'm not sure --Pwnage8 (talk) 18:39, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Template:New South Wales Police Force use of image

A little bot problem with {{New South Wales Police Force}} and Image:NSWPF logosmall.jpg.

I refer to Wikipedia:Help desk#Non free use image in template problem..

I am aware of the template exclusion for fair use images but thought there was an exemption for when the image was explicitly and solely depicting the legal personality which held the rights to the image.

The image in question could be used on each page the template is being used on. So why cannot the image appear in a template which provides the common information to the pages. This is what templates are for.

Please note that there are other templates like this one, see Category:Snapshotinfoboxes.

What needs to be done so that that an exemption can be made for templates like this, that is, templates which contain tangible encycyclopedic content, for use encyclopedically, they are not navigation boxes, etc.?

I could work around the problem by putting the relevant material into a main space "article" and transcluding it using : prefixes, but this is likely to be inelegant and produce a clunky looking article. However, I should not have to do this from a fair use aspect, because the material is being used identically, whether it is in a template in template space, in a "template" in main space, or repeated in each article in main space.

Perhaps the whole template could be managed as fair use content once it has a fair use image content in it ?

In short, how can you put encylcopedic content containing a fair use image into a template so that it can be used on multiple pages, where the image in the page DOES comply with fair use requirements?

Peet Ern (talk) 23:21, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

These are just my thoughts on the matter... Per WP:LOGO, "Copyrighted logos, like all non-free media, require a separate use rationale in the image description each time they are used in an article. The template {{logo fur}} may help editors construct a rationale." If a logo were used in a template, it wouldn't really be possible to list the separate use rational for each article it was used in. In addition, it could be argued, since the image is part of the template, that no one has studied each article and verified that the use of the logo on that page is covered by fair use.

In fact, with a quick look, I'd say the logo really should not be used on Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service.

So, for me, I'd say it has to do with the lack of control over which articles it gets included in and the lack of fair use rational on a page-by-page basis. --Ishi Gustaedr (talk) 04:37, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

The logo would need a rationale for each article the template is used in I would think though the use of the logo in a template could be considered as decoration which is not allowed. MilborneOne (talk) 11:44, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks Ishi Gustaeder and MilborneOne.

I do understand the issue. What you have advised above, very clearly and succinctly actually, reinforces my underlying concern that the issue is not really one of copyright but rather managing the copyright, and is a problem of technology, and how it interplays with policy. If, for example a template once it contained fair use material was managed as fair use material, subject to all the same rules, a rationale each time it is used, then there would be no problem. If for example a fair use reason has to be provided to enable the template to present the infobox at all, then the rules are satisified. The problem will be getting admins and bots to recognise a new way of complying with the fair use copyright rules.

I also agee that the royal commission article is not correct fair use.

I will see about modifying the template to insist on a fair use rationale. The problem will be that the fair use rationale for the image will be in the article using the image, not with the image, which some might argue is where it should be anyway.

Cheers.

Peet Ern (talk) 12:49, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Removing LOGO Onda

Hi, I just added a logo to the site of ONDA after I had received permission from the/a webmaster of that company to use that logo as long as it was not changed in any way and as long as the source/owner was mentioned. Nevertheless I saw a bot had removed it seconds later. Can you explain me what I did wrong? Many thanks, --JanT (talk) 23:44, 4 June 2008 (UTC) (page was about ONDA (Morocco)

When we get an image that we aren't allowed to modify or has other restrictions, we look only at whether it meets the Non-free content criteria. If it does, then we write a fair use rationale. I'm not sure about the details of the problem, since ONDA (Morocco) hasn't been edited since November 2007, but if you need help, you can ask back here. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 23:56, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

The usaagericht I received was to use the logo and could be reused mentioning the owner and no changes were allowed. This doesn't include resizing (as long as you keep the main characteristics is use: thus not changing the colors (exceot making a monochrome version) and do not abuse it for use for other means then displaying the logo of the firm. It is not free to reuse the logo by another railway company or comparable. You can change size as long as the ratio stays the same.

That seems reasonable; I can't imagine that the -eg- logo's of any organisation would give permission for reuse when you use it as basis for your own organisation. If this has to be allowed to put it on commons I am sure I've found many other pictures on Wiki that won't have that kind of permission —Preceding unsigned comment added by Tonkie67 (talk • contribs) 14:28, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Works by the government of Afghanistan

Hi, I just came across a newly-created article at Amirzai Sangin, which is a direct copy'n'paste of http://www.president.gov.af/english/cabinet/bios/amirzai_sangin.mspx. Most pages on that site (e.g. http://www.president.gov.af/english/cabinet.mspx) assert "© 2006 Office of the President", however list of countries' copyright length suggests that Afghanistan has no copyright law (it's probably not at the top of the Afghan government's list of priorities) which would imply that the text is in the public domain. What's the best approach in this situation - delete as a copyvio on the basis of the asserted copyright, or treat it a PD source based on the apparent lack of any copyright law? -- AJR | Talk 23:55, 4 June 2008 (UTC)

Agreed, it appears there are no copyright relations with Afghanistan. Opinion follows: Since it is probable that eventually there will be copyright relations with Afghanistan, it is better to get permission or delete it as a copyvio. Since writing a new article in Wikipedia's own license is straightforward and avoids possible future problems, the choice seems clear. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 00:11, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

The US and Afghanistan are definitely in the process of establishing intellectual property relations (see [2] from 10-2007), its only a matter of time before copyright is restored. – Zedla (talk) 23:15, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Rules for using Fair Use images in sandbox

I use sandbox at bottom of my user page to prep articles before uploading them to thier final home. Sometimes article includes Fair Use imgage. Just had Oregon State Parks logo deleted from sandbox page even though it was image for article on Collier Memorial State Park--a legitimate Fair Use article for Oregon State Park logo. In this case, I already finished/uploaded article so nothing was lost. However, want to be sure I understand rules for using Fair Use images in sandboxes?--Orygun (talk) 00:47, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure it's official policy that non-free images are not allowed on user pages: in general, such usage is inconsistent with US copyright law and although there are some situations in which it's not, the Trustees have decided to err on the side of caution. One major factor as to why they're not allowed is that user pages are wide open to public browsing. What might be acceptable is if you moved the sandbox from your user page to a sub-page (e.g. just edit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Orygun/sandbox). The only way that page can be seen by others is if someone searches for it using Special:PrefixIndex (unlikely) or they just randomly type the address in (really, really, unlikely). Does that help?-- Hux (talk) 03:43, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Non-free images may not be used at all outside of main namespace, and there are bots and other users going around who will remove them if they are. Add the image after you have moved the article into mainspace. Stifle (talk) 11:24, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Can certainly do that. Thanks!--Orygun (talk) 00:32, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Image from a PD TV Broadcast

I have an image I'd like to use on the article for Let's Join Joanie. I've checked various websites and I've confirmed the broadcast is PD. I'd like to upload the image, But I don't know what license to use. Retro Agnostic (talk) 05:31, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

It depends why it's public domain. Is it because the copyright wasn't renewed? Then use {{PD-Pre1964}} --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 07:34, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks!! Yes, It's because it's copyrights were not renewed. Retro Agnostic (talk) 09:01, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

"Fair rationale use"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=User_talk:KennedyBaird

The message at the bottom of the page, could someone explain it in more detail for me?

Thanks, Kennedy ^(talk) 06:25, 5 June 2008 (UTC).

It looks like someone already fixed it. See WP:FURG if you need more background. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 07:22, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

How can i upload the image file for my own page?

Hi,

i want to upload some image files for my own page in Wkipedia.

i cannot find the option to upload the image files from my computer..

its showing like don't have permissions, copyrights, etc..

is there anyway to make my own page with my files from the computer..

Please give me a solution for this..

tregards, Prabu.ravichandran. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Prabu.ravichandran (talk • contribs) 07:28, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

If you are the photographer or sole creator of the images, then you are the copyright holder, and you decide which license to put your work under. See WP:ICTIC. Otherwise, please tell us more about the images you want to upload. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 07:31, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Material from Kremlin.ru

I've just started a PUI debate here, but I see now that there are others. Basically, the Kremlin gives this permission-

All materials on the Presidential website may be reproduced in any media outlets, on Internet servers or on any other information supports without restriction on the amount of material and time of publication. This authorisation covers equally newspapers, magazines, radio stations, TV channels and Internet sites. The only condition is that any reproduction or broadcasting of the website’s materials contain a reference to the original source. No prior approval from the Presidential Press and Information Office is required to reprint information from the website.

This appears to give permission only for informational use, and does not give explicit permission for modification. This means that, by Wikipedia standards, the images are non-free, right? J Milburn (talk) 13:54, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

"without restriction on the amount of material" seems to imply to me that the content can be changed. The original material in any derivative work is a variable amount. I am pretty certain this is free enough for us. There may also be other relevant Russian government statutes as well, although I'm not aware of them. IronGargoyle (talk) 21:34, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

It's clear from the phrase, "the only condition", that attribution is the sole restriction placed on the use of works from Kremlin.ru; any other use, modification, etc., is permitted. In addition, Russian copyright law makes several classes of works public domain by default, meaning that even attribution is not required in those cases. See the template {{PD-RU-exempt}} for more info. -- Hux (talk) 03:56, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Images of music album covers and book covers

What about adding to an article an image of the cover of a music album? Can it be copyright infringement? By the way, what about adding an image of the cover of a book?

Thanks in advance.

User:Alfredo J. Herrera Lago —Preceding comment was added at 18:25, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

WP:NONFREE covers these in section 2.1 Acceptable use and 2.2 Unacceptable use. In particular it says the following is acceptable use: "Cover art: Cover art from various items, for identification only in the context of critical commentary of that item (not for identification without critical commentary)." Whereas for unacceptable use it says: "The use of non-free media in galleries, discographies, and navigational and user-interface elements generally fails the test for significance (criterion #8).". So it is definitely okay to use the cover art for an article on that book or album. It also says it's not okay to use it in a discography. Other uses would be a gray area and would have to be handled on a case by case basis. (FWIW, I take a more strict view and would tend to say "no" where others say "yes", but that's just me.) --Ishi Gustaedr (talk) 18:43, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

copyright status

what would i choose on the fair use for a screenshot of a DVD from a band if the screenshot is being used to illustrate the band. I need to find an image for the band Pain For Pleasure, but since they are an alter-ego band, who hasn't ever played live, they are featured in a Mockumentary on a bonus DVD from a Sum 41 album. This is really the only coverage they have had. Any suggestions? please post them on my talk page. - -[The Spooky One] | ^{[t c r]} 20:27, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Probably {{Non-free music video screenshot}}. Make sure you add a fair use rationale explaining why a free replacement couldn't be made, similar to what you wrote here. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 20:51, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

Copyright status for flags

How are we able to use relatively new flags without any fair-use rationale? For example, Image:Flag of Kosovo.svg, Image:Flag of Iraq.svg, and Image:Flag of Lesotho.svg are all less than 2 years old, but I can't imagine that they are in the public domain, yet we use them widely, without fair-use rationales. Each of those three is on Commons with licenses such as {{cc-by-sa-2.5}} from the editor who created the SVG files and uploaded the images. Is that correct? Can I just look at a photo or web image of a flag and redraw it myself and then release it as a free image? I certainly wouldn't think that I am the copyright holder under those circumstances. We recently had an image deleted from Commons and put back up on en.wiki for fair-use only (3 articles), namely Image:Flag of NATO.svg. That SVG file was created by the same process as those flags, but something is different between the two licenses. What's the difference? — Andrwsc (talk · contribs) 21:45, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

I think the copyright of the original creator of the flag does have to be taken into account unless there is a specific reason otherwise. Image:Flag of Iraq.svg may be an exception, because it consists only of simple typography and basic geometric shapes and thus ineligible for copyright. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 20:09, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Your last comment is interesting. I didn't see anything in Wikipedia:Public domain#Works ineligible for copyright protection that would seem to apply to flags, but perhaps that is still the case...? What is the boundary for a "basic geometic shape" vs. a complex one? (For example, the Kosovo flag consists only of stars (basic) and a map outline, which might be considered "common property".) Would {{PD-ineligible}} be the right image tag for flag images like this? — Andrwsc (talk · contribs) 20:27, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

My comment about it being ineligible is more about what's on the flag than it being a flag. From WP:PD#Fonts, basic typography is ineligible. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 21:24, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

←Ok, here's a semi-hypothetical but specific question to help me understand the legal status of flags. Suppose I see a photo or graphic image of a real flag that represents a particular geopolitical entity (i.e. not a commercial organization), and then make an SVG file by myself that best represents that photo. What license tag can I attach to that file? — Andrwsc (talk · contribs) 23:22, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

I know that some flags are too simple to be copyrighted, some countries specifically exclude official flags from copyright, and some flags are old enough that any copyright would have expired. The remaining ones I assume are still eligible for copyright (although I'm open to any new information people can bring up). An accurate reproduction of a two-dimensional work does not create a new copyright; it just inherits the copyright of the original. See Bridgeman_Art_Library_v._Corel_Corp., which considered a more difficult decision(photographs of paintings, which can be difficult to do), and still came to the conclusion that accurate reproductions were not eligible for copyright. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 08:06, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Template:NHM

Would one of you kind folks enlighten me as to what {{NHM}} actually means. Only a few images are tagged with it, all with free (PD, GFDL) license tags as well as this tag (which says it forbids commercial use). I am having a hard time reconciling this tag and the license tag (they seem quite contradictory to me). Thanks. - AWeenieMan (talk) 23:47, 5 June 2008 (UTC)

It seems to be functioning as a warning tag, i.e. the image starts out with a PD or GDFL tag then an editor notices that it's a photo of the interior of the British Museum and puts this tag on it, presumably as an indicator that an admin should delete it since images licensed for non-commercial use only can't be placed on Wikipedia as PD/GFDL images (or on the Commons at all). If I'm right then it's not very productive for people to do that. They should just nominate the image for deletion instead. -- Hux (talk) 04:02, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

What is odd is that commons has their own version of this template (commons:Template:NHM). Based on its wording, it seems they don't know what to do with the images. I left a note for the creator of the en.wiki version, we'll see what he says. - AWeenieMan (talk) 04:33, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

What's really odd is that the NHM claims to put a burden on what people can do with photographs that they take there. Stifle (talk) 15:18, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Moving image from commons back to en.wikipedia

The following image Image:USDHScrestred.jpg was uploaded with the wrong license and ended up on commons. It is not a free image the correct license is -non-free-logo and requires a fair use rationale. How does one go about getting the image off of commons and back on en.Wikipedia at which point fixing the license and FUR is a simple matter. Dbiel ^(Talk) 01:07, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Well, it's not definitely non-free - the summary is ambiguous: "uploaded with permission from the school's website administration" could mean that the school has given permission for it to be freely usable (which means the license is accurate), or it might mean that they gave permission only for it to be uploaded to Wikipedia (in which case the license is wrong and non-free-logo/fair use rationale is the way to go). However, the Commons is pretty strict on this stuff so it probably should be removed. What you could do is first save the image to your computer, remove it from any Wikipedia pages, then nominate it for deletion from the Commons (see Commons:Deletion guidelines). While that's happening, you could upload the image separately to Wikipedia (with a different filename) with the correct license. -- Hux (talk) 04:13, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Image:Joe Clark at Progressive Conservative Convention 1976 small.jpg

Image:Joe Clark at Progressive Conservative Convention 1976 small.jpg appears to need deletion, for the same reasons as Commons:Commons:Deletion requests/Library and Archives Canada non-PD images. It's a crop of this, so even if fair use applied, it's the original that should be used, not this derivative. I messed up an attempt to list it as a copy vio, and as usual, it's completely unclear to me, which of multiple venues, I'm supposed to use to propose deletion. --Rob (talk) 05:36, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

WP:IFD would be the right place, I'd think. But if it's usable under fair use (which I doubt it is), it would actually be preferable to use the cropped version, per WP:NFCC criterion 3. b. Sarcasticidealist (talk) 05:41, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Granted that the image is not PD as claimed, the terms of use at the source seem to indicate a free license. Maybe equivalent to {{cc-by}}? —teb728 t c 06:41, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

It explicitly prohibits derivative works, I'm afraid. Sarcasticidealist (talk) 06:46, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Ah yes, so I see at the Commons page referred to in the original post. —teb728 t c 06:55, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

No permission template

I would like to move Image:Garrybarry6.jpg to the Wikimedia Commons so that I can use it at the Norwegian Wikipedia. However, the permission for free use is missing, and the Flickr version says © all rights reserved. At Commons, I would have tagged such an image with Template:No permission since, but I can't find such a template here. What is the correct procedure at the English Wikipedia for requesting documentation of its licensing status? --Kjetil r (talk) 09:15, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

I don't think there is an equivalent for the npd template on Commons. This image can probably be nominated for deletion with {{subst:rfu}} though, as I imagine it could be replaced by a free image (and it isn't free itself). giggy _(:O) 09:18, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

But the uploader does not claim fair use, why should I tag it as replaceable fair use? I guess I have to take it to Ifd instead.--Kjetil r (talk) 12:26, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Photos of copyrighted material (2)

This is similar to the question above under "Photos of copyrighted material". A user has found an image on flickr that is CC-BY (and therefore an acceptable free license). See the image in question. However, the image is of a 3D sculpture/costume which is most likely copyrighted, right? So is it possible to release images of copyrighted work that you don't own under a free license? (would the Iron Man suit image, if uploaded here, by CC-BY or would need a fair use rationale?)-Andrew c ^[talk] 14:31, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

See commons:Commons:Derivative_work. Basically there are two copyright holders, the photographer and the sculptor. So you could record that the photographer released their work under CC-BY, then include a fair use rationale for the sculpture. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 19:35, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Image:Randknight.jpg

I stated where I found the image in the summary, but I don't know what license to use for images with a confirmed domain but the owner of the image didn't state whether or not it could be used here. WPjcm^{Words are cool} 14:38, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

What do you mean "confirmed domain"? Just looking at the link, no where does it state the image is released into the public domain, or under a free license, so therefore (judging by first looks) we cannot use the image here on wikipedia. However, you can always try to contact the blog owner and see if they are the one who took the photograph and see if they wouldn't mind uploading the original to the commons, or at least stating on their blog that they release the image under a free license.-Andrew c ^[talk] 14:45, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Regarding a deleted image (and yes, I read the Bot's links)

Hello, I got a message on my talk page that the bot had deleted a picture I uploaded. The link to the photo was on the Bot's message, but to be honest, I have not a clue what this image was, what article I'd added it to, or any information whatsoever.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Image:96_1_b.JPG&action=edit&redlink=1

So first, how do I found out the page it was deleted from? Second, this may be something worse revising...to at least give a bit more context regarding the deleted image so that people logging in have a clue what was deleted, and not just why it was deleted.

Adtrace (talk) 15:13, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Hi. Your best bet is to contact Maxim (talk · contribs), the admin who deleted it (found by clicking the link you provided). He should be able to view the deleted image content and answer your questions. giggy _(:O) 15:14, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

If you check your own [User Log] it says you uploaded it on the 19 Feb 2006 and then if you look at your My Contributions it says you created an article soon after Bank of Hamilton that included it. MilborneOne (talk) 15:23, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

The image has now been restored, and I've put it back in the article. Thank MilborneOne. giggy _(:O) 15:26, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

Fraternity Emblems and Fair Use Criteria

Hello, I was just checking on my fraternity's page (Alpha Epsilon Pi) when I noticed our cofa was not on it. I went to the talk page and it said that File:AEPi Crest.jpg needed justification for why it was on the page. However, the few other fraternity pages I clicked around all had their crests. What do we have to do to get ours back up in an acceptable manner? Jklharris (talk) 02:37, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

To upload a non-free image such a coat-of-arms or logo, you need to provide the licensing information (in this case, that it is a logo) and provide a fair use rational ("fur") for each page the image is used on. In this case, you might want to look at Image:Sigmanucrest.png for a good example of what to say in the rational. You should also review the Wikipedia rules on non-free image use at WP:NONFREE and the use of logos at WP:LOGOS. Then you can use Wikipedia:Upload and select the "It is the logo of an organization" option. Fill out the form and for Licensing, select Logo. If you need more help with filling out the form, just ask here. --Ishi Gustaedr (talk) 04:09, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

CD cover

I have trouble figuring out where to ask my questions, so I hope this is the right place. I want to upload a couple of images of CD covers for use on the CDs' pages. I own the CDs, so I am able to scan the pictures and upload them onto Wikipedia. However, if I do this, the images will not be perfect (due to scratches on CD cover, minor tilt of the image, scanner quality, etc.). I'm wondering if this is the only way to upload the images without disobeying copyright policies. For example, I noticed that this image was found on the net. Am I aloud to upload a picture found on the internet for this use? Thanks! You're dreaming eh? 03:25, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Yes, you are allowed. Just go to Wikipedia:Upload/Non-free album cover and click the appropriate link (most likely, it's infobox), then for "source" in the textbox towards the bottom, put the image's URL. Easy! giggy _(:O) 03:45, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Good to go? (I took the Fair use rational from the No Time For Later page, by the way) You're dreaming eh? 05:09, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

It has two fair use rationales now, you only need the one that comes when you upload. But yeah, good to go! giggy _(:O) 05:15, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

........Oh well, the more the merrier. Thanks a bundle! You're dreaming eh? 05:21, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

copyright and image deletion

hello. I received an instruction message for my newly uploaded image. I'm not really sure how I can handle this situation because I'm not well aware of copyright rules and laws. I found the from a website and it doesn't seem to provide source information on the image. If it is insufficient to just reference the webpage address where the image was found, then please let me know how to delete the image.

It seems I dont have file deletion right. How can i delete it?

Thanks —Preceding unsigned comment added by Als0605 (talk • contribs) 17:55, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

You not only have to provide source information, you need to make sure that anyone can use the image for any purpose. Since it is a graph, it means any Wikipedian could redraw it and release it freely. It will get deleted through regular process if you do nothing, or if you ask, I'm sure some admin will delete it ahead of time. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 18:33, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Contributions from User:Jm0371

User:Jm0371 has uploaded quite a few images, among them some aerial imagery. All of the user's contributions, including the aerials, are tagged with {{PD-self}}. However, it seems likely that the images came from an imagery provider, and could be a copyright violation. The user has not responded to at least two requests for more information about the source of the images, and has done things like tagging an FAA airport diagram as his/her own work, making the other contributions suspect. Suggestions for next steps? - Eureka Lott 23:09, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

Bring them up at WP:PUI --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 19:51, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Images at Detachment 88...

There are some rather high quality photos at this Indonesia related page. Copyright is often a big problem with this part of wikipedia, and I'm suspiciuos about the origins of the photos.

• [3]. One of two images by this apparently retired editor. This image says it was taken during counter terrorism raids(!?!). It means the editor was right in the middle. Another in the article uploaded by the same editor was apparently taken during Indonesian independence day parade which sounds (and looks) a bit more feasible.
• [4]. This is by another editor and I am waiting a reply from them. It is claimed as public domain.

many thanks --Merbabu (talk) 01:02, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Looks like they are both copyvios, shows up as a set here [5] credited to AP Photo/Bayu Pamungkas. You'd need to be able to search the apimages.com site to definitively confirm it. – Zedla (talk) 07:53, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Image sourced to web pages that go away or change

I have several pictures I uploaded as non-free fair use from the www.transformers.com web site. Here is one example - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cannonball-cybertron.jpg - Now since then www.transformers.com has become a redirect to www.hasbro.com/transformers, and then they changed the site a lot, removed things, updating pictures, etc. I had sited a pictures source as www.transformers.com, which is now is obviously incorrect. I had a complaint that I was giving the wrong source, so I looked, and the picture is gone from the site now. I then removed the mention of www.transformers.com, and now people are posting that the pictures have no proper source and should be deleted. As of right now the only source for this image on the internet is Wikipedia's copy, I can't point to the original source. How do I handle a source for an image to a web site that has changed since I got the picture? Mathewignash (talk) 01:23, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

You can see if has been archived at http://www.archive.org/. --Ishi Gustaedr (talk) 02:43, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Nope, not there. Mathewignash (talk) 02:50, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

I looked around, too, and couldn't find the Cannonball pictures (although I'm not too familiar with the Transformers so I might not have looked in the right places). Too bad you didn't point to the URL the picture came from, then it would be easier to look up.

I looked at http://www.flickr.com and there are some photos there. Unfortunately, the ones I saw were all copyright. It might be possible to talk to the uploader and have it re-licensed under the Creative Commons ShareAlike license. In flickr terms, that's the "Attribution-ShareAlike Creative Commons" option. ("For an image to be considered 'free' under Wikipedia's Image use policy, the license must permit both commercial reuse and derivative works." -- WP:ICT) If you can do that, the picture would still have copyrighted material in it (the Cannonball character design) so you'd still need the fair use rational. --Ishi Gustaedr (talk) 16:45, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

The source is still the source even if they took the image down. You should list where you found it, roughly when, and make a note that the image was taken down by the owner. With an image like this, I don't see any reason to seriously doubt you if you say it came from the manufacturers' website. That ought to be fine. Sourcing is mostly about identifying who owns the image, and I think that is clear here. Dragons flight (talk) 16:52, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for helping me. I do have the date on the original files I copied onto my hard drive, and the home page it was taken from. I hope that is enough then. Mathewignash (talk) 17:14, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Keeping control of posted pictures

I have not uploaded any pictures to Wikipedia for some time because every time that I look at the licensing conditions I can never make any sense out of them without reading lots of documentation which probably means that anyone lifting an image from a page will also not understand the licensing conditions. I basically want to retain copyright of any picture, I do not want it used elsewhere without my permission and I want "copyright" "my name" displayed on the image. As far as I can see this is not possible which is a pity as it means that I will not upload any more images - I have a number of photographs that would be useful additions to articles. --jmb (talk) 12:06, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Unfortunately, what you want to do is not allowed on Wikipedia. All images uploaded must be able to be used elsewhere, even for commercial use. Whan you say it should not be used anywhere else, that goes against Wikipedia policy. Soxred 93 16:41, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

That is what I thought, pity as it just means that I will not post any more on Wikipedia. Is it possible to remove pictures already posted on Wikipedia? --jmb (talk) 18:30, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

You could remove all article links, blank the image description page, and request a speedy deletion (only if you are the original uploader/author) under the G7 criteria by adding {{Db-g7|rationale=}} to the blanked page.– Zedla (talk) 19:07, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Though the free licenses that Wikipedia uses are not retractable. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 20:05, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Ummm, heck no, you can't delete them. It appears about two dozen pics were uploaded, from July to February, all declared your own work, all under a free license, and most used in an article. G7 was intended for cases where somebody makes something that nobody else improved or used (so it's loss would go unnoticed). You can't go back in time and take away things that articles have been partly built on. --Rob (talk) 03:12, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

You may request that your name be listed next to a picture, however, once you click Upload with a tag declaring its yours and you release it under a free license, it is free forever. MBisanz ^talk 04:01, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

It just seems a poor policy, I took some pictures last week that I had intended to upload. These were of some very rare old objects that I found in a cupboard and would have been a very useful addition to the relevant article but I will not now be uploading. There are many other contributions that I could make but will not now being doing. Wikipedia's loss not mine. --jmb (talk) 07:19, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

A creator can clearly retain copyright and re-release elsewhere under a different, possibly restrictive, license (see WP:COPYRIGHT#Contributors' rights and obligations) but can never retract the license for copies uploaded here under the GFDL. All copies derived from wikipedia retain the GFDL/CCA. The basic consideration of G7 deletion for an image should be no different than its application to an article/text (which is also under GFDL). A G7 could still apply if the image went sufficiently unused in article space but 'sufficiently unused' is a separate issue. – Zedla (talk) 07:29, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

New York & Ottawa Railway map

My image was tagged. I own the Time Table from which this map was scanned from. I plan to use it in a future publication on the history of the subject railway. It was given to me by a man named Gary Villeneuve, whom passed away a year ago. The Time Table is from 1930 and is older than 75 years old (the age used at the Canadian National Archive for material allowable to be viewed by the public). I also will be uploading this map to my New York Central - Ottawa Division web site, which I own all the material for as well. My question.....is this enough to clear the image for the NY&O entry? I described where it came from in the description when i originally uploaded it, but your bot does not think it was. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Bonfire34 (talk • contribs) 20:25, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

I assume the company that created and published it was a US company, correct? If it was published without a copyright notice, then it is public domain and should be tagged {{PD-Pre1978}}; if copyright was not renewed {{PD-Pre1964}}. If both formalities were complied with, the copyright expires 95 years after publication. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 21:37, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

Lou Gramm picture

I recently uploaded a picture of Lou Gramm, but I do not know what tag it should be. What would be the appropriate tag for a picture of a rock musician? --IceSickleSHAKE (talk) 22:32, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

The notice at the site says the whole site is copyrighted so the image can't be used at Wikipedia. If you want to try to get permission, see WP:COPYREQ --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 22:36, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

photo from 70s?

I uploaded a photo of Image:Sarolta Monspart.jpg. Author is unknown. (it was made in about 1972). What licence I should use?

Dnikitin (talk) 02:35, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Is there any proof that the image is licensed under a free license? If not, it may be deleted as copyright violation. giggy _(:O) 02:37, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

If you know it was first published without a copyright notice, you can tag it {{PD-Pre1978}} --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 04:09, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Ah, sorry, I thought it was a photo created in the US, but after looking more closely, it's unlikely. Do you know where the photo was taken? --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 04:11, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

from this site http://www.szszbtfsz.hu/images/monspart_sarolta_fut.jpg Dnikitin (talk) 07:09, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

You may be in luck; see {{PD-Hungary}}. You'll need to make sure it was really created in Hungary though. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 07:25, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Adding pictures from other language Wikipedias

If an image is being used on a different language version of Wikipedia, can I add it to the English one? Would the copyright rules be the same for all language versions? --Cexycy (talk) 11:38, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

I think the best practice here would be to copy the image from the other-language 'pedia to the Commons (CommonsHelper can do this for you), then the same image can be used in multiple places. But yes, you can copy the image here under the same license if you like. Kelly ^hi! 12:34, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Let me just add that before you upload anything either here on on commons, make sure the copyright status declared on the source wiki is actually plausible. I see that in your case you were transferring something from the Macedonian Wikipedia. I'd strongly recommend against doing that – mk-wiki is full of copyright violations, nobody on that wiki gives a damn about copyright, even the admins are blatant serial copyright offenders. My estimate is 90% of all images over there are falsely tagged. Fut.Perf. ☼ 14:29, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Ugh, you're right. That's a messy wiki. Kelly ^hi! 14:53, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Hi.

How do you know all this about the Macedonian group? Anyway I think we need a good Tose picture for the article, I think he deserves that. What's the best way we can go about it? --Cexycy (talk) 23:01, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

About mk-wiki: I sent them a complaint a couple of months ago [6], pointing to cases where even the admins themselves had been uploading whole series of obvious copyvios. They promised to clean up their act but didn't. Even those ones I specifically proved were copyvios are still there as of this minute. Their deletion log was almost totally blank until recently; they were deleting only images that had been moved to commons. I think they didn't even have a proper mechanism in place about how to nominate bad images, or if they had, nobody had ever used it. It's only today that a new admin happens to have started deleting some images. Fut.Perf. ☼ 08:40, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

I couldn't find any free images using the CC search. So, I'd say use an image with a known copyright (as opposed to one of unknown origin) and give it a fair use rational. Maybe get one from this "official website" or this "official website". --Ishi Gustaedr (talk) 23:43, 9 June 2008 (UTC)

Best thing would be to contact somebody who has some private images (like, from concerts) on flickr or somewhere, and ask them if they would release them under a free license. Second best thing would be a fair use case. I'm not sure how our general stance on fair use images of recently deceased persons is. I guess it could only be a promotional image whose copyright belongs to Proeski's heirs or agency (i.e. something from his official website) and that's not currently being used commercially. Images from news sources are taboo. Fut.Perf. ☼ 08:40, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

book image

What do you do with an image inside a book (not a book cover)? Thylacinus cynocephalus (talk) 03:34, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

It depends on a lot of things. Can you give us more details? --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 05:06, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS

1  want a short  note on DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS121.245.138.233 (talk) 08:23, 10 June 2008 (UTC)
2  WANT A SHORT NOTE ON DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER121.245.138.233 (talk) 08:23, 10 June 2008 (UTC)
3  WANT A SHORT NOTE ON INDUCTION HEATING121.245.138.233 (talk) 08:23, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

WANT A SHORT NOTE ON DISTRIBUTION TRANSFORMERS121.245.138.233 (talk) 08:39, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Try reading Transformer and Induction heating. If you need addition information on these topics, try posting a more specific question at Wikipedia:Reference desk/Science. —teb728 t c 10:29, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

Image:Canadian pre-40th election polling up to Mar 2 08.PNG

I've been told there is some sort of concern regarding the chart I created for the up coming Canadian federal election (see subject/headline).

I created the chart MYSELF - and took quiet a while to do it, too. The data I used are available from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40th_Canadian_federal_election

Please advise. --Can-eh-dian Redhead (talk) 13:19, 10 June 2008 (UTC)

If you created it from scratch, then you own the copyright, and you choose the license. See WP:ICTIC --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 01:19, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

How much remuneration (U.S. Dollars) are we entitled to, as good-will contributors to Wikipedia content, when we are false accused of being in violation of copyright, and how is this substantiated? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Millennianstar (talk • contribs) 05:02, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Adjudicatory Remuneration

How much remuneration (U.S. Dollars) are we entitled to, as good-will contributors to Wikipedia content, when we are false accused of being in violation of copyright, and how is this substantiated and what time frames are given for limitations? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Millennianstar (talk • contribs) 05:05, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

logo image

I want to upload some logos of Orienteering Championships.

What licence I can use for logo of championships?

Dnikitin (talk) 09:58, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Use {{logo}}. Easiest way to do it is to click here, and on the drop down menu at the bottom, choose "logo" (and obviously, choose the file to upload a bit above where the "browse" button is). giggy _(:O) 10:03, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Clarification of Template:PD-Art, vis. 2-D art

One thing I've been wondering: how do the provisions of {{Template:PD-art}}, and by extension, Bridgeman Art Library v. Corel Corp. (which explicitly mentions only two-dimensional works), cover things that are debatably two dimensional?

The two examples I am specifically thinking of are 1) coins (ancient ones, not current ones that are still within copyright), and 2) vase painting (again, thinking mostly ancient Greece). The former case is basically but not exactly two dimensional, as coins feature a certain degree of relief; the latter case is exactly two dimensional, but occurs on a three-dimensional surface. I assume that a close-up photograph of an ancient painting on a vase, one that was close enough and cropped enough to make it difficult to tell on what surface, exactly, the work occurs, would be covered by PD-Art, while a slightly wider frame, that reveals the painting to be on a curved surface, or that reveals the vase itself, would not. Or maybe not even that. I don't know; that's why I'm asking.

You can answer here or on my talkpage, whichever is convenient. Thanks in advance for the assistance. Ford MF (talk) 16:08, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

image/figure upload to article

Hello....what format must an Image or Figure be in to be able to upload to an article I wish to write? Thankd —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.77.137.57 (talk) 21:57, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

There's some information on this at Wikipedia:Image use policy#Format. Last I knew, however, you will need to register an account in order to upload images. Once that's done, you can visit Wikipedia:Upload to learn more about uploading an image. – Luna Santin (talk) 22:35, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Crediting CC-BY

Do CC-BY images need to bear a credit line in every article they appear in, or is the credit on the image description sufficient? Is there a resource that explains this? – flamurai (t) 22:23, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

Generally the image's description page is considered sufficient on WP, either by upload history or by naming the author. I'm not sure as far as a specific resource page, but it's briefly mentioned at Help:Image page and Wikipedia:Image use policy. – Luna Santin (talk) 22:32, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

image tag?

--Ekweisberg (talk) 23:30, 11 June 2008 (UTC)i have an image i am trying to upload. i own the rights to the image but am unsure as how to tag it. Can you advise?

thanks.

The copyright to an image belongs to the photographer, unless there is an agreement in writing(or it falls under the definition of a work for hire). If you own the copyright, explain on the image page how you came to own the copyright, and then choose a tag from WP:ICTIC --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 23:36, 11 June 2008 (UTC)

License tagging for Image:The back of Marchmont.JPG

I am aware thet I didn't add a license to this image but I believe I uploaded a the same image again and licensed that one as I could not find a way os license tagging the first image once it was loaded. Can we delete the first version with no license? Mark J Richards (talk) 13:06, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

To edit the license on an image that's already been uploaded, just go to the image page and click the "edit this page" tab at the top. Images with no license will get automatically deleted, but I'm sure you can get someone to expedite it if you ask. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 19:38, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

May I use the image from http://www.eas.slu.edu/Earthquake_Center/TURKEY/xx1.jpg for the article Earthquake protector?

Thanks,

Shustov (talk) 19:23, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Unless a reason is stated otherwise, images on the web are copyrighted and not suitable for Wikipedia. --Rat at WikiFur (talk) 19:38, 12 June 2008 (UTC)

Is this Plagiarism?

Talk:Anti-Americanism#RFC:_Plagiarism