Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2015 February 5

= February 5 =

time grid
Hi there,

I was wondering what time grid Wikipedia utilizes. I noticed that pages have been updated today, but at a much later time than it is even on the east coast. I tried finding out but couldn't find a link in regards to it. 68.15.29.164 (talk) 18:27, 5 February 2015 (UTC)
 * East coast of where? It's perfectly correct on our east coast.  KägeTorä - ( 影 虎 )  ( Chin Wag )  11:25, 6 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Wikipedia times are listed as UTC. Dismas |(talk) 18:31, 5 February 2015 (UTC)

How to release a character into the public domain?
I'm a published author and I'd like to release one of my characters (originally created by me back in 2008) into the public domain. I can't seem to find anything online explaining how I would go about doing that. 107.10.22.138 (talk) 23:30, 5 February 2015 (UTC)
 * Unfortunately, this qualifies as legal advice, and that's something we can't do. It's best to ask a lawyer or the copyright office. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie &#124; Say Shalom! 16 Shevat 5775 23:35, 5 February 2015 (UTC)
 * I didn't realize this was legal advice. Sorry :( 107.10.22.138 (talk) 23:52, 5 February 2015 (UTC)
 * Ah no worries, mate, it happens. Sorry we can't be of more help. Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie &#124; Say Shalom! 17 Shevat 5775 00:36, 6 February 2015 (UTC)
 * Assuming you're in the USA, see Nichols v. Universal Pictures Corp., National Comics Publications, Inc. v. Fawcett Publications, Inc. and this blog posting for some reasons why professional legal advice may be appropriate in this case. I'm afraid we can't give any more help than this. Tevildo (talk) 00:12, 6 February 2015 (UTC)
 * This question is about releasing one's own original character into the public domain. Those cases are about unauthorized use of someone else's character. So I don't really see the relevance. -- BenRG (talk) 01:46, 6 February 2015 (UTC)
 * There are plenty of pages online about releasing copyrightable works into the public domain, such as Granting work into the public domain. The idea that this is somehow dangerous, and would need to be done under a lawyer's advisement, is ludicrous. The worst thing that could possibly happen if you did it wrong is that your declaration would have no effect, you would retain copyright, and anyone else's use of the character would still infringe on the copyright. That's no problem for you, only for those other people. They might be well advised to consult a lawyer, but not you. -- BenRG (talk) 01:46, 6 February 2015 (UTC)


 * Enough. BenRG, the page you quote is not even a reference in mainspace, it is about wikipedia policy regarding material released here.  The OP can easily find someone suing him, and incurring legal costs.  We can't advise him, he needs professional help more than mine or yours. μηδείς (talk) 02:23, 6 February 2015 (UTC)