WikiMusicGuide:Copyright FAQ

from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.

Contents 1 What is copyright? 2 What is fair use? 3 Can I add something that I got from somewhere else? 4 Can I reuse WikiMusicGuide's content somewhere else? 5 What should I do if I find a copyright violation?

What is copyright?

Copyright is the right that the producer of a creative work has been granted to prevent others from copying it. In most countries you don't have to apply for a copyright - you get one automatically every time you produce creative work. Licenses may be granted to others, giving them the right to copy the work subject to certain conditions.

What is fair use?

Under certain conditions, you may copy a copyrighted work without a license from the original author. One of these limitations on the rights granted to the copyright holder is called "fair use."

Under U.S. copyright law, the primary things to consider when asking if something is fair use are:

1. The purpose and character of the use.
2. The nature of the copyrighted work.
3. The amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the work as a whole.
4. The effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the work.

Can I add something that I got from somewhere else?

In general, no. Most of the content people want to add is copyrighted. The absence of a copyright notice does not mean that a work may be freely used. Works whose licenses restrict their use only to WikiMusicGuide or prohibit commercial use are also unacceptable on WikiMusicGuide. If in doubt, assume you cannot use it.

Can I reuse WikiMusicGuide's content somewhere else?

Text in WikiMusicGuide can be reused only if you release any derived work under the Creative Commons ShareAlike license. No permission is needed to create a hyperlink to WikiMusicGuide or its articles.

Images used in WikiMusicGuide may have their own, independent licensing scheme. Many images are either in the public domain or licensed under copyleft licenses. Many are copyrighted and used on WikiMusicGuide under "fair use".

What should I do if I find a copyright violation?

We take this very seriously. If you are the copyright holder, then you may request the page be immediately removed from WikiMusicGuide. Otherwise, go to WikiMusicGuide deletion page and report the problem.