User:ImperatorExercitus/Images

In this essay, I shall summarize image use, licenses and copyright problems. The main concepts I shall discuss are self-created images, free licensing, public domain, and free use Self-created images are the best choice for images, and must be licensed under a free license, namely the GFDL and/or a Creative Commons license. However, they must be released into the public domain, which removes all copyright and licensing restrictions, thus preventing lawsuits. Though photos of 3D objects usually make a new copyright, pictures of 2D objects, namely paintings and such do not generate a new copyright Free licensing is another matter; some sources, usually on the Web a list can be found here, are considered "free enough", or must state that the image can be used for commercial use and modification (unless the author agrees to the condition stated on WP:COPYREQ). However, if the source allows the image(s) to appear only on Wikipedia, or says they can be used for non-commercial use only, then they cannot be used as "free license".

Now, onwards to Public Domain images. These are simply images that were published before 1923 for the United States. See this for a list of public domain sites. However, although not always true in other countires, recreations of 2D paitings the public domain because they are so old do not automatically create a new copyright in the United States. Similarly, in the US, scans of images take on the copyright status of the reproduced image (also, not internationally true). Finally, fair use, one of the most elusive and common image use policies. Fair use is taken very seriously, as mistaggings and/or basic copyright violation are DOS (Deleted On Sight), much like attack pages, and continuation will result in a block (and eventually, a ban).