Forum:Revised image policy proposal

This forum is a discussion to adopt the proposed image policy rewrite linked to below. The vote will last until Sunday, September 20, 2009, unless more or less time is required. All matters of the voting policy apply. Please be civil.

Proposal
So right now, our image policy is what we would colloquially refer to as an “epic meh” (as are a number of our policies). Rather than taking you through everything in here (most of it is just rewordings that you can read yourselves), I’ll highlight the major changes. To follow along, the rewrite can be found here.


 * 1) In the “Source” section, the following changes have been made:
 * 2) You have to have permission from artists on DeviantArt and all other relevant websites (ie, CG Society, etc.) in order to use their copyrighted images. You can see below DeviantArt images a copyright symbol, a year, and a name. That means it’s copyrighted and you need permission, because it’s copyrighted. We’re pretty much all violating copyright law since we use DeviantArt images without permission. You can piss and moan about this all you want, and I know some of you will, but this is something we don’t have a choice on. Let me remind you again that if we don’t adopt this part then we are willingly and knowingly violating copyright law. If you don’t like it, then as Arav once so eloquently put it, “tough titties.”
 * 3) Now I know what you’re thinking–if someone says they have the artist’s permission, how do we know they’re telling the truth? Well, honestly, we don’t. We have to do this on the honor system. We can’t double check with every single artist. So long as we enforce copyright law and require permission, we’re covered. If someone lies and the artist finds out, then the uploader is the one who’s screwed. We can’t be accused of allowing it if we had no knowledge that the user was lying or misleading anyone.
 * 4) Also, there is NO grandfather clause. This WILL be an ex-post-facto enforcement. Any DeviantArt, etc. image you’re currently using without permission (assuming this proposal passes), go get permission or the image is going to have to be deleted. This is going to be a copyright friendly wiki. Period.
 * 5) The current policy grants exceptions to sourcing, such as allowing people to say that they don’t know an images source because “its liek ben on my computer 4 so long I dunt no teh source!” Tough. No exceptions anymore.
 * 6) In the “Filespecs” section, the new policy would make it clear that some images just can’t legally be modified. Again, if you find an image that you want to alter in any way, shape, or form, even if it’s a simple cropping, but the license doesn’t allow for it, then it sucks to be you but you can’t do it.
 * 7) In the “Failure to source/license images” section, a more hard-line approach is taken. Instead of the final violation in the list saying that there is an infinite ban on image uploads, the new policy would make it an infinite ban. If a user is violating copyright law and, subsequently, our policies that many times after that many bans, they have to go. There will be no ex-post-facto enforcements for the infinite bans. If a user has previously had their image uploading rights restricted due to too many policy violations, they will NOT be infinitely blocked. Nothing will change for those users.
 * 8) If a user is caught knowingly giving false information, ie. lying about the sourcing information for whatever reason, they’re banned forever. Period. No warnings, no nothing. That’s plagiarism, and you’re gone.
 * 9) In the “Categorization” section, the new policy requires images to be categorized by source, subject, and type. It’s really about time we start categorizing our images and being more organized around here. That time is now.
 * 10) In “Hyperspace Content,” it says that no exclusively Hyperspace content will be used. Period.
 * 11) In the “Quality” section, it’s pretty much clear–don’t upload poor quality images.
 * 12) In “Usage,” we make it clear we’re not an image host.
 * 13) The deletion of unused images is established in policy in “Unused images.”

So that’s essentially it. Again, as much as I don’t like saying this, anyone who votes against this due to not wanting to ask for permission to use an image is, aside from being lazy, essentially making an unjustified vote and advocating that we violate United States Copyright Law due to you not wanting to take five minutes to send someone a message. Don’t be lazy and just do it. What’s the worst that could happen? They say no. If that happens, go find another image and ask that artist for permission. The best thing you can do is to start your initial searches in Creative Commons or Public Domain images, and THEN start looking in the copyrighted ones if need be. There’s no excuse to go around violating this.

This image policy rewrite is very clear and gives very specific instructions for how to upload images. Considering how comprehensive and detailed it is, there’s really no excuse anymore for not following it (also hence the immediate deletion before a warning). I know we’re trying to be more community-oriented lately, but this is United States Copyright Law. We can’t be lenient.

Oh and before anyone says “I’m not an American so HAHAHA,” that doesn’t matter. Wikia servers are located in the United States, so Wikia is required to follow the laws of the United States, including copyright law. By registering with Wikia, you affirm that you’re going to follow all relevant laws while on a Wikia wiki as well. Copyright law doesn’t really care if you’re from Rwanda or Antarctica or any place else. Wherever you are, as soon as you register on this wiki you’re required to follow United States Copyright Law. If you don’t like that, then I’m sure you can find a less demanding wiki or create your own. Sorry to be so blunt, but it’s just the truth. - Brandon Rhea  (talk)

Support

 * 1) As the overly-passionate proposer, I obviously support this. Just for the record, I’m doing this knowing full well I’m probably going to be deleting a crap load of my images that I’m using without permission. Don’t think you’re getting screwed over here or victimized when it’s going to affect pretty much everyone. - Brandon Rhea Rebel symbol Blue.png (talk) 05:50, September 13, 2009 (UTC)

Discussion
I’ll answer any questions, comments, or concerns made in this section. Remember to please be civil. I say that again because I know some people might be annoyed by this. - Brandon Rhea  (talk) 05:50, September 13, 2009 (UTC)