VbzWiki:Image use policy

In general:

• If an image should not be copied freely to all corners of the universe:
  • please state this in the image's description
  • name the copyright holder
  • if possible, describe the conditions under which the image may be copied/used
• It is okay to upload pictures of merchandise with copyrighted images on them, as long as the image is not of sufficiently high resolution that the image itself has some commercial value. It's ok if the image is clear enough to let the viewer get a good look at the item pictured, but it should not be of high enough resolution or quality that additional items could be created from the uploaded image. If in doubt, upload the image but mark it clearly in the description as COPYRIGHTED.

Or, in other words:

• We do not wish to become a trading post for pirated images or other files; we will take action to prevent abuse.
• However, we see no ethical problems with displaying high-resolution images of actual items, whether those items are currently available for sale or not.
• Wherever possible, we like to credit the creators of those images (especially any copyrighted images contained in the photo, but also including the photographer).

Uploading

• "Commerical Grade" media files should not be uploaded without the explicit permission of the copyright holder.
• "Sub-Commerical Grade" media files are assumed to be usable under the "fair use" clause of U.S. copyright law.

Grade

• Images: "Commercial Grade" is any image of sufficient resolution that it could conceivably be used as an item of trade, e.g. printed on a medium for sale (note card, t-shirt, button) or as promotion for something other than licensed use of the image itself ("licensed use" being e.g. merchandise legally bearing the image). Typically, resolutions abover 100 - 200 dpi are moving into "Commercial Grade" territory, although there is no set rule on this and it depends somewhat on the size and detail of the source image.
• Audio: "Commercial Grade" is CD or near-CD quality, i.e. 44.1 kHz stereo. For popular commerically-released audio (music or comedy, mostly), in order for the file to be uploadable under "fair use" it would have to be either of considerably lower-than-CD quality, an extract (too short to be usable in a mixtape or on the radio), or somehow audio-watermarked (e.g. a voiceover partway through naming the artist). For other audio of less commercial interest (e.g. out of print, or of very narrow interest), we will have to take each case individually until a formal policy is developed.
• Video: We will have to take each case individually; it hasn't come up yet.

Copying

Files uploaded to the wiki under the above terms are presumed to be legally copyable unless otherwise stated on the file's information page; please check that page before copying.

Please feel free to contact us for clarification.