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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EU country copyright on court rulings/laws

Not media specific, but since a lot of copyright-knowledgeable editors watch this page: Anyone with knowledgeable input on the copyright status of EU legislative and judicial documents would be greatly appreciated at Talk:Reverse Discrimination (EU Law)#Copyright status of the quotes?. I figure any actual conversation would be better kept not here since it's not really about images/media. Cheers. VernoWhitney (talk) 15:57, 19 May 2022 (UTC)

I just want to ask a question related to a non-free photo use

I added the cover of the first volume of the manga Spy × Family into this page but the bot deleted it. I just want to ask, is there any way (legit way) to add an illustration (in this case, it is the first cover) to that page? - Theodorethebear (talk) 11:29, 24 May 2022 (UTC)

You would need to add a fair use rationale for List of Spy × Family chapters to the image description. But remember that we are trying to minimise use of images, so there should be a good reason to use a non-free picture. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 23:18, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

Hmm. Who is the "we" who are trying to minimize the use of images? Am I part of them? Thanks. BeenAroundAWhile (talk) 02:28, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

picture from a Canada government map site

Trying to answer the copyright question on image upload. The image in question from a canadian government web site, open government license license https://open.canada.ca/en/open-government-licence-canada . I am new here, can someone help me out? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Harry12555 (talk • contribs) 11:54, 24 May 2022 (UTC)

It appears you have uploaded the same image under two names File:Nepisiguit Bay Coastline.png and commons:File:Nepisiguit Bay coastline.png. So one can be deleted. Not a copyright issue. Graeme Bartlett (talk) 23:12, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

Yes I uploaded a second version, I was testing a different size. Yes it can be deleted, I don't see where I can delete it Harry12555 (talk) 01:04, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

@Harry12555: you can tag one for deletion by editing the page and adding {{db-author}} at the top. Mojoworker (talk) 02:17, 30 May 2022 (UTC)

PD-TXGov

I've started a discussion about c:Template:PD-TXGov over at c:COM:VPC#PD-TXGov and input from editors familiar with US state copyright laws would be really appreciated. If it turns out that this license is OK for Commons, WP:PD#US government works might need to be updated. It might also mean that some non-free files uploaded locally to Wikipedia could be converted to PD and moved to Commons. -- Marchjuly (talk) 07:33, 25 May 2022 (UTC)

PD-ineligible-USonly?

Any opinions on whether is OK to relicense File:SportsShoesLogo.png as {{PD-ineligible-USonly}}? The file is currently being used in Bruce Bannister#Business career and there's really no justification for that type of non-free use per WP:DECORATIVE. Since the logo appears to be for a UK wesbite, it likely isn't {{PD-logo}} in the UK per c:COM:TOO United Kingdom; it does, however, seem simple enough to be "PD-logo" in the US. -- Marchjuly (talk) 06:16, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

This probably would be public domain in the US, so you could tag this PD-ineligible-USonly.Graeme Bartlett (talk) 23:10, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

Thanks Graeme Bartlett. I re-arranged your response a bit since Harry12555's question wasn't mistakenly added to my thread. The two questions aren't related. Harry12555 seems to be asking about File:Nepisiguit Bay Coastline.png which has been proposed for deletion by Whpq. -- Marchjuly (talk) 01:28, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Picture from Government of Canada website

I m not 100% sure what you mean. The picture is from the Governement of Canada web site and they wave any copy right concerns. Can you give me more information and I am new doing this, thanks in advance for any help Harry12555 (talk) 16:33, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

And Harry12555, where are you seeing this on a Canadian government website? Are you talking about #picture from a Canada government map site? Graeme Bartlett (talk) 23:10, 26 May 2022 (UTC)

Here is the link where I got the picture, you will see "licence: open governement licence-canada" Harry12555 (talk) 01:07, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Hi Harry12555. If you're asking about File:Nepisiguit Bay Coastline.png, then the reason it has been proposed for deletion is because it's redundant to c:File:Nepisiguit Bay coastline.png found on Commons. Since there's no real need to have two uploads of the what looks to be exactly same file, the local one you subsequently uploaded to Wikipedia will be deleted. I'm not sure why you basically uploaded the same file to Wikipedia a few minutes after you uploaded it to Commons, but the only real difference appears to be in the file name ("coastline" vs. "Coastline") and the file's size. If you want to upload a larger verion to Commons, just go to that file's page and click "Upload a new version of this file". Maybe uploading the same file twice was just made a mistake and that's OK; if, however, the files are different in some other important way, please clarify what that difference is so that someone can help you. -- Marchjuly (talk) 01:39, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

I had trouble with the size of the image. I tried to enlarge a second version using paint and I uploaded the result. I didn't think to use upload a new version of this file. I will do that next time, thanks for the help. I tried to delete one of the pictures but was unable. I see only certain members can do that and i beleive only certain members can do that. I assume they will go ahead and do it shorty Harry12555 (talk) 01:46, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Any user can nominate, tag or propose a file for deletion, but only an administrator can actually delete the file. Techincally, such a file isn't being deleted but rather only hidden from public view and can't be used any longer. Any user, however, can remove a file from a Wikipedia page, but it's still there for others to see and use. Since Commons and Wikipedia are separate projects, issues with Commons files used on Wikipedia will need to be resolved on Commons according to Commons' policies and guidelines. If you or another user doesn't contest the proposed deletion tag added to the local file, it will be most likely be deleted by a Wikipedia administrator after seven days have passed. If someone WP:DEPRODs the file (i.e. contests the proposed deletion), the file will likely need to nominated for deletion at WP:FFD. Sometimes redundant files like this are eligible for speedy deletion per WP:F8, but Whpq (who proposed the file for deletion) probably felt F8 didn't apply in this particular case because the two versions were just different enough. -- Marchjuly (talk) 02:51, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

@Marchjuly: F8 doesn't apply because the Commons image has a lower resolution. @Harry12555: If you want to use a higher resolution image, you can simply upload it as a new version on Commons. Somewhere on the Commons file page should be a link with the text "Upload a new version of this file". I'll note that what you did was upscaled the image, and to me it doesn't look as good as the original image on Commons. There is also that orangey brown overlay that makes both images a bit hard to read. You might be able to get somebody to help you create a map on Commons. I've never requested a map, but please see this. Somebody might be able to create a nice clear map for your article. -- Whpq (talk) 11:46, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Thats great information you provided, thanks. I'll look at both options. I didn't know I could make my own map here. The clearer map would be the better option. Now I also know I can upload it as a replacement Harry12555 (talk) 12:22, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

I replaced the image with the original higher resolution one. Thanks. I will be requesting a map/help, still reading up on it Harry12555 (talk) 14:16, 28 May 2022 (UTC)

File:Patriarch_Alexy_I.jpg

Hello ,

Following image of Patriarch Alexy File:Patriarch_Alexy_I.jpg I have uploaded, it is derivative work: colorization done by me with My Heritage coloring photo option on grayscale picture I have made from original photo from my family archive, but do not know which would be best copyright tag for it.

Probable dates for original photo might be from between February 1945 till April 1970 in USSR or other countries he was visiting.

I have done research on attribution, but could not find any particularly matching photo portraits to attribute authorship.

Regards ~~~~

EgorovaSvetlana (talk) 13:48, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

Hi EgorovaSvetlana. The file you're asking about was uploaded to Commons which means that any issues related to it are going to need to be resolved over at Commons. I can say that I don't think it's clear that colorizing old photos automatically means a derivative work has been created per c:Commons:Colorization. Even if your colorized version is eligible for copyright protection, the copyright status of the original photo itself would also need to be considered. The more information you can provide about the provenance of the original photo, the better the chance there is of sorting out its copyright status. Commons policy requires that the files it host are freely licensed or within the public domain in the United States and also in the country of first publication; so, it's going to be quite hard for Commons to keep your version per c:Commons:Precautionary principle if no specific information about the original photo can be found. If you can determine who took the photo, when in was taken and when it was first published, then most like the best that can be assumed is that it's an anonymous unpublished work. Under US copyirght law (see c:Commons:Hirtle chart) are considered to be protected by copyright for a 120 years after creation. Based on the dates you've given above, that would mean the earliest the original photo would enter the public domain is in 2066. Of course, this is just a guesstimate based on what little information you've provided above, and you might want to try asking about this over at c:Commons:Village pump/Copyright to see what others might think. -- Marchjuly (talk) 02:58, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

thank you for your response EgorovaSvetlana (talk) 17:00, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

I see you've already asked about this at c:COM:VPC#File:Patriarch_Alexy_I.jpg and have received a response. It would probably best to keep any addition discussion you have about the photo there so as to avoid a confusion. -- Marchjuly (talk) 03:17, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

ok, thank you EgorovaSvetlana (talk) 17:00, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

Is this image OK?

File:Sir William Turner Walton.jpg. Not sure if an image not free in the US is OK for Wikipedia. Tim riley talk 19:40, 27 May 2022 (UTC)

If it's not free in the US then we can use it in limited circumstances: it has to meet our non-free content policies and guidelines. VernoWhitney (talk) 01:59, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

Hi Tim riley There's a c:Template:Not-PD-US-URAA template on that file's page that states the files uploaded under such a license are currently being reviewed. The template gives instructions that can be followed when there are questions about the file. Although the template states "New files should not be uploaded with this tag, or they will be deleted", it doesn't give a brightline date as to when a file is considered to be "new". The template was created in May 2007, and this file was uploaded in 2018; so, perhaps that means it's "new" in the context of the template. You might want to ask about at c:COM:VPC to see what others think, or you could start a c:COM:DR to see whether the file needs to be deleted from Commons. FWIW, this file is being used in a number of Wikipedia articles, but it's likely its non-free use could be justified in William Walton; even in that case, though, WP:FREER would have to be shown to have been met. The image is technically OK to use as long as it remains on Commons, but any concerns about its licensing will need to be resolved on Commons. -- Marchjuly (talk) 03:30, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

Color and PD-textlogo

Are images such as File:Life 96-5 logo.png in the public domain per {{PD-textlogo}}? They are comprised of simple geometric shapes, but I am unsure if the gradient pushes the work above the threshold of originality. Thanks! HouseBlaster^talk 16:39, 29 May 2022 (UTC)

Simple gradients like that would not qualify for threshold of originality in the US, so that can be marked PD. --Masem (t) 16:43, 29 May 2022 (UTC)