Commons:How to detect copyright violations

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[edit] How to detect copyright violations

Often, people upload images, particularly photographs, that do not abide by our licensing requirements. This is done sometimes in good faith, sometimes in bad faith. So here a brief how-to for detecting many copyvios with a high probability.

It is not possible for us to detect all copyright violations. However, we can detect a great number of them by simply having a look around, especially in Special:Newimages, and watching for tell-tale signs. Here is a list of signs of probable copyright violations:

Photographs by professional photographers

Few of these grant free licenses over their images. Consider contacting the photographer, if possible using the e-mail templates, if somebody posts a vague claim to be the photographer, or of having obtained authorization.

In the rare event that a professional photographer allows reproduction of his/her works, make sure he/she has licensed them under a free license (i.e. not "noncommercial" or "Wikipedia only") and post the permission to permissions-commons@wikimedia.org.

Photographs of celebrities, rock bands, etc.

Not all such photos are copyright violations, but they often are, and thus they warrant special scrutiny. Signs of probable violations:

• "Staged" photographs, where the celebrities obviously pose for the photographer. Almost always, such people do not pose for amateur photographers; they pose for (semi-)professionals, who usually demand payment for their works and seldom put them under free licenses.
• Low-resolution pictures. Probably taken from a web site; photographers have access to better content.

It is however possible for amateurs to take photographs of celebrities. Examples include concerts, public appearances, etc.; this often needs chance. But, generally, the people will then explain how and where they took the photograph, and will provide some high-resolution shot.

Photographs of items or from angles not accessible to the general public

Generally, only professional crews have access to "press only" locations offering a good vantage point on the starting lines of races, etc.

Thumbnails (very low resolution photographs)

These are a tell-tale sign that the image has been downloaded from a web site.

Suspicious licenses

Apart from screenshots and icons of free software computer programs, very few images are licensed under the GNU GPL or other free software license. As well many people randomly tag images with "PD-Self" and such. Some people apparently choose a random free license to upload copyrighted content.

Modern art

Paintings, sculptures, and other works of art are copyrighted by their author (at least, in most jurisdictions). Photographs of such items can thus be covered by copyright of the artist (depending on the jurisdiction and the location of the item). Check for acceptable exceptions from this rule: {{PD-Art}} and {{FOP}}.

Suspicious user

Users who repeatedly upload copyright protected items under false licenses. These users may have several warnings, and many attempt to hide the original copyright owners identity by stating that he or she created the work.