Help:Copyright on images
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PathfinderWiki includes artwork to enhance the reader's understanding of the articles on which they are presented. There is a strong case for fair use for many of the artworks that are present on the wiki, and provided that artworks are used sensibly and in an informative manner, there will be no cause to remove them. To describe the copyright status of media uploaded to PathfinderWiki, each artwork should name the artwork's copyright holder, the year it was copyrighted, and a copyright template that describes its copyright status or reason the its use on PathfinderWiki is covered as fair use.
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Book covers and product packaging images
Book covers from products can be used with Paizo's permission via the Fan Content Policy, and should be denoted as such with the {{Paizo FCP}} copyright template on the cover's File page. When possible, use the template to denote the type of image and a URL to its source, such as {{Paizo FCP|store}} or {{Paizo FCP|blog}}.
Other book covers and product packaging images may be used provided they are not extremely high resolution. Despite the artwork on book covers being copyright, anyone can go to an online bookstore and find the book cover. Since the cover itself acts as promotional material, it is not in the publisher's interests to prevent people from displaying the image. Use the {{Promotional}} template, explain that it is a book cover or product packaging image, and when possible provide links to where it was released.
Maps
Maps scanned or extracted from the source material are not suitable for upload to the wiki because these are copyrighted images. If they are of high-enough resolution to make out the details and labels on the map, they are of high-enough resolution to fall outside "fair use;" if not, there is little point in using the image because it will not be legible.
Maps that are freely available on the Paizo blog or have otherwise been released under Paizo's Community Use Policy are exceptions to this rule. The FCP also allows for alternate interpretations of Paizo's maps.1 The copyright on fan-made maps lies with the creator, so seek permission from the map's creator before using any unofficial maps. However, such maps almost certainly incorporate information released under the FCP, and if uploaded to PathfinderWiki should use the {{Incorporates FCP}} copyright template.
Photographs
These can be informative when writing articles about Pathfinder staff, artists, freelancers, and other real-life people. Photographs are copyrighted unless otherwise specified, so seek permission from the owner of the photograph (not necessarily the person in the photograph) before uploading these to the wiki, even if they are low resolution. Photographs from Paizo.com are expressly excluded from the Fan Content Policy unless they are used as cover images in the Paizo Store.
Other artwork
As a rule of thumb, if artwork from a Pathfinder product is presented as a free download on the Paizo Blog, it is legal to upload to PathfinderWiki under the Fan Content Policy. Even if the artwork comes from Paizo but is published elsewhere, such as in a news story on a third-party blog, a Paizo or third-party promotional video or stream, or even to Paizo-owned social media accounts like X and Tumblr, that content is not covered by the Fan Content Policy; if there is a fair-use case to upload that content to PathfinderWiki, use the {{Promotional}} template to explain why.
Artwork scanned or extracted from the source material is not allowed.
Artwork from the source material posted by artists — such as in their portfolio, on their websites, or on sites like DeviantArt — that has not been released by Paizo on their blog cannot be legally uploaded to PathfinderWiki without Paizo's explicit permission. These images are released to the artists by Paizo under a closed license, and the artists do not have the right to extend that license to us. If such an image must be used, get permission from the artist, then directly link to the image on their source site by using the {{External}} template.
Audio and other media
Audio samples provided by Paizo for products like audioboooks and audio dramas may be uploaded only if they are designated as promotional materials using the {{Promotional}} copyright template and accurately sourced.
References
- ↑ Vic Wertz. (September 13, 2010). Post on thread "Question on community use map", Paizo Messageboards. (Archived: http://www.webcitation.org/65ianEGma)