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This page documents an English Misplaced Pages policy.It describes a widely accepted standard that editors should normally follow, though exceptions may apply. Changes made to it should reflect consensus.

Shortcuts WP:NFCC WP:FUC

Guidelines and policies concerning non-free and unlicensed content on Misplaced Pages are almost always under active discussion on this page's talk page. You are invited to participate.

For the full non-free content use guideline (including this policy and its criteria) see Misplaced Pages:Non-free content.

Rationale

The primary goal of this policy is to protect Misplaced Pages's mission to produce content that is perpetually free for unlimited distribution, modification and application by all users in all media. The policy embodies a compromise between this goal and another central part of our mission, to produce a quality encyclopedia. As a further concern, we wish to minimize legal exposure. We therefore permit a limited amount of non-free content under strictly defined circumstances that are deliberately more restrictive than United States fair use law.

Policy

For purposes of this policy "non-free content" means all copyrighted material lacking a free content license. It may be used on the English Misplaced Pages only where all 10 of the following criteria are met.

1. No free equivalent. Non-free content is used only where no free equivalent is available or could be created that would serve the same encyclopedic purpose. If non-free content can be transformed into free material, this is done instead of using a fair-use defense. Non-free content is always replaced with a freer alternative if one of acceptable quality is available. "Acceptable quality" means a quality sufficient to serve the encyclopedic purpose. (As a quick test, ask yourself: "Can this image be replaced by a different one, while still having the same effect?" If the answer is yes, then the image probably does not meet this criterion.)
2. Respect for commercial opportunities. Non-free content is not used in a manner that is likely to replace the original market role of the original copyrighted media.
3. (a) Minimal use. As little non-free content as possible is used in an article. Short rather than long video and audio excerpts are used. Multiple items are not used if one will suffice; one is used only if necessary. If an image has its own article, other articles should link to that rather than use the image.
   (b) Resolution/fidelity. Low- rather than high-resolution/fidelity is used (especially where the original is of such high resolution/fidelity that it could be used for piracy). This rule includes the copy in the Image: namespace.
4. Previous publication. Non-free content has been published outside Misplaced Pages.
5. Content. Non-free content meets general Misplaced Pages content requirements and is encyclopedic.
6. Media-specific policy. The material meets Misplaced Pages's media-specific policy.
7. One-article minimum. Non-free content is used in at least one article.
8. Significance. Non-free content is used only if its presence would significantly increase readers' understanding of the topic, and its omission would be detrimental to that understanding. Non-free media files are not used if they can be replaced by text that serves a similar function.
9. Restrictions on location. Non-free content is only allowed in articles (not disambiguation pages), and only in the article namespace. Subject to exemptions. (To prevent an image category from displaying thumbnails, add __NOGALLERY__ to it; images are linked, not inlined, from talk pages when they are a topic of discussion.)
10. Image description page. The image or media description page contains the following:
    • (a) Attribution of the source of the material, and of the copyright holder if different from the source. See: Misplaced Pages:Citing_sources#Images.
    • (b) A copyright tag that indicates which Misplaced Pages policy provision is claimed to permit the use. For a list of image copyright tags see Misplaced Pages:Image copyright tags/Non-free content.
    • (c) The name of each article in which fair use is claimed for the item, and a separate fair use rationale for each use of the item, as explained at Misplaced Pages:Non-free use rationale guideline. The rationale is presented in clear, plain language, and is relevant to each use.

Enforcement

An image that does not comply with this policy 48 hours after notification to the uploading editor will be deleted. To avoid deletion, the uploading editor or another Wikipedian will need to provide a convincing fair-use defence that satisfies all 10 criteria. For an image that was uploaded before 2006-07-13, the 48-hour period is extended to seven days. An image on which fair use is claimed that is used in no article (Criterion 7) may be deleted seven days after notification.

Deletion criteria for non-free content are specified in Misplaced Pages:Criteria for speedy deletion.

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