Wikipedia:Media copyright questions

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How to add a copyright tag to an existing image

1. On the description page of the image (the one whose name starts File:), click Edit this page.
2. From the page Wikipedia: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 the GFDL, an acceptable Creative Commons license, or has released their image into the public domain, this permission must be documented. Please see Requesting copyright permission for more information.
3. Type the name of the tag (e.g.; {{GFDL-self}}), not forgetting {{ before and }} after, in the edit box on the image's description page.
4. Remove any existing tag complaining that the image has no tag (for example, {{untagged}})
5. Hit Save page.
6. If you still have questions, go on to "How to ask a question" below.

How to ask a question

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

Note for those replying to posted questions

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

andrew radford photo (copyright)

i have written to cambridge university press to ask permission to use photo of andrew radford. once permitted, how do i then create appropriate tag for photo? please direct.

http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/authors/204122?utm_source=shortlink&utm_medium=shortlink&utm_campaign=radford

sandbox for Andrew Radford (British linguist)

thanks, joseph galasso — Preceding unsigned comment added by Josephgalasso (talk • contribs) 23:49, 4 April 2017 (UTC)

@Josephgalasso: Well it is doubtful that Cambridge actually has the right to release that photo. It depends on who the copyright holder is. Generally, the copyright holder of a photograph is the photographer unless that copyright has been transferred by legal action or by contract (such as a work for hire contract). We would have to receive a release from the proper person. Otherwise it isn't valid.

In any case, you would have to prove that the copyright holder has released the photo under a free license. There are about two dozen different free license tags that can be assigned to an image. Please see c:COM:CT for a list of them. Note, the "Free Creative Commons licenses" section as that is the most common free license used.

Two options are available once a free license is chosen. Option 1: Add a line to the source page that explicitly states, "This photo is released under <insert license>". Option 2: Have the copyright holder fill out a release form (located here: c:COM:ET) and send it into our volunteer response team. If you have any other questions about this please let me know. --Majora (talk) 23:56, 4 April 2017 (UTC)

File:Budweiser.svg - Should this be PD-Textlogo?

I posted about this on Talk:Budweiser but didn't get anything. The Budweiser logo has a minimal crown and text. This should be "PD-textlogo" with a "Trademarked" tag, right? Is there a reason this hasn't been used already?-Ich (talk) 20:01, 5 April 2017 (UTC)

There is a "selection and arrangement" copyright that may include this. Barring a court decision to the contrary I'd play this one safe. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk, contributions) 15:02, 6 April 2017 (UTC)

I agree with Jo-Jo Eumerus. Even the crown alone might count as a creative element (it's fairly complex; not a simple geometrical shape or "text"). – Finnusertop (talk ⋅ contribs) 20:37, 6 April 2017 (UTC)

As a side note, the corresponding version on Commons has been deleted as a copyvio. --Majora (talk) 03:31, 7 April 2017 (UTC)

I believe that the crown in the logo meets the threshold of originality that would make the logo copyrighted. —MRD2014 📞 contribs 02:49, 8 April 2017 (UTC)

Suppose they tagged a file for discussion and nobody came...

On March 30 my uploaded image, File:Big-Boy-Comic-Book-Composition.png, was flagged for discussion for NFCC:3a. It was a composition of 8 comic book covers. It is now clear that four covers that are pre-1964 did not have copyrights renewed. Three of the remaining show a merger of two parallel books, and the last a book started by a franchisee, a different company so to speak. Transformational treatment overall. The books were a monthly promotional item using a company mascot, given away, not sold.

After seven days, by consensus or lack of objection, the file can be deleted. This occurs promptly. Seven days have passed without comment other than my objection. How long are these FfD tags permitted to last without response? — βox73 (৳alk) 07:06, 6 April 2017 (UTC)

Until someone feels they have enough information to decide per closure guidelines. -- Asclepias (talk) 13:46, 6 April 2017 (UTC)

Image permission

i upload a file File:NtelabiBukariImage.jpg and add this file to ntelabi page .how can i add copyright permission to this image . this file send the owner of the page in my gmail id what proff i attach gmail id screen shot or other thing ? DudejaPrince (talk) 05:23, 7 April 2017 (UTC)

Please note that only the original photographer can grant a free licence for the image. Ntelabi Bukari being the subject does not automatically make him the copyright holder and we need evidence that the copyright holder agrees to a free licence. Please ask the photographer to send an email as explained in Wikipedia:Declaration of consent for all enquiries. They would have to grant a free licence for anyone to use this image for any purpose including commercial activities. A number of suitable licenses are also suggested on this page. The image may be deleted in the meantime for a lack of permission or licence but if we receive such an email, the file will eventually be restored. De728631 (talk) 13:09, 7 April 2017 (UTC)

Fair Use

Why isn't fair use content allowed on Wikipedia? Seraphim System (talk) 12:14, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

Huh? It is, just not liberally so. Jo-Jo Eumerus (talk, contributions) 12:16, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

Ok, I just had an image reverted because it wasn't free, but I checked WP:IUP and WP:NFC. There seems to be some perennial dispute over the use of images in the USHMM archives, but after reviewing WP:NFC I think their use is within the exemption doctrine policy ("historically significant") Seraphim System (talk) 12:45, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

They might be but you must make out a fair use rationale for the inclusion of any non-free image for every article that you want to use it on. The argument, for example, on Einsatzgruppen may be that as there are several free images on Einsatzgruppen activites, what does any non-free image add to the article? Nthep (talk) 13:09, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

I did not see that when reviewing the policy, would you mind showing me the language you are referring to? Seraphim System (talk) 13:12, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

Certainly, assuming you are looking at Wikipedia:Non-free content#Images the section on historically significant images includes "Iconic and historical images which are not subject of commentary themselves but significantly aid in illustrating historical events may be used if they meet all aspects of the non-free content criteria, particularly no free alternatives, respect for commercial opportunity, and contextual significance." Turning to the NFCC themselves, I don't think WP:NFCC#2 is particularly relevant here but WP:NFCC#1 says "Non-free content is used only where no free equivalent is available, or could be created, that would serve the same encyclopedic purpose", WP:NFCC#8 says "Non-free content is used only if its presence would significantly increase readers' understanding of the article topic, and its omission would be detrimental to that understanding." So to use File:Einsatzgruppen Killing.jpg in an article where there are free images of Einsatzgruppen activities you need to show how the non-free image significantly increases understanding of the topic above that, if any, added by the free images. Before using any non-free image you must add the full rationale to the image page before adding the image to an article. The WMF line on free-use is deliberately more stringent than that allowed under US law for the reasons given at WP:NFC. Nthep (talk) 13:30, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

(edit conflict) And, to clarify, specifically WP:NFCC#10c addresses the requirement to have a rationale for each and every use of a non-free image. ww2censor (talk) 13:35, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

Given the historical significance of this particular photo I am confused why that is being applied here. it is not equivalent to the other photos, it is clear from looking at it that this photo is not equivalent to all the others. This is just my opinion, but it is one of the most significant war photos I have ever seen. Sources about the inscription and origin right now are sketchy, but I have contacted the USHMM and I am currently trying to track down other WP:RS to add this to the article. Seraphim System (talk) 13:44, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

As I said in original reply it might be significant enough to justify it's inclusion but it is down to you to create that justification and add a rationale meeting all 10 of the NFC criteria to the image file and for the rationale be agreeable to other editors that it suffices to meet the criteria. Nthep (talk) 14:04, 9 April 2017 (UTC)

Ok, I understand. I am trying to obtain more information about the image. I suspect the inscription story may be a rumor, but Vinnitsa and Einsatzgruppe D is verifiable from the limited information available on the source page (USHMM) - I will review the article again to make sure but I don't think Vinnitsa was discussed in the article. I will see what User:Diannaa thinks of adding it in on talk, thank you. Seraphim System (talk) 14:31, 9 April 2017 (UTC)