SubSurfWiki:Training/What you need to know about copyright

You cannot put copyrighted work into a wiki without written permission from the copyright holder, and ideally a license that clearly states its terms.

Examples of things that cannot be reproduced in or uploaded to a wiki:
 * Text from a copyrighted book.
 * Papers under copyright, e.g. from a journal.
 * Figures from papers or books, unless the terms specifically allow it. Some publishers allow, say, one figure to be used without permission.
 * Images from the Internet, unless there are clearly-stated terms that allow it.

Content you can use:
 * Material the wiki owner owns the copyright to.
 * Material published under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution (like this very wiki). For example, on Flickr
 * Material from bodies that generally release everything into the public domain, or free from copyright — many governments do this, including the US government.

Golden rules:
 * Give attribution, unless you know the material is public domain.
 * If in doubt, ask.

Glossary

 * Copyright: When it applies, is automatic — you don't have to express it (but it helps) or do anything special to assert it. It applies to the expression of ideas, not to the ideas themselves. In general, it lasts for between 50 and 70 years, depending on the context and jurisdiction. If you are employed, the copyright to your work probably belongs to your employer. If you publish, you usually have to transfer copyright to the publisher (they will make you sign something). If you want to use someone else's copyrighted work, you must get their permission.
 * Public domain: The work has fallen out of copyright, or has been relinquished by the creator. The work is effectively owned by the public. The Mona Lisa, old photos, etc, are in the public domain. Many government creations are released into the public domain. You can do whatever you like with public domain work, including change it.
 * Licensing: A way to allow others to reproduce copyrighted work. Licenses grant some limited range of permissions to the user, and might cost money. The three most common models are restrictive, permissive and non-permissive licenses.
 * Restrictive licenses: You might be granted this type of license by a publishing company. They are a one-time, use-specific allowance. They are not automatic — you have to ask for them. Furthermore, you must get permission each time you use the work.
 * Permissive licenses: Sometimes called copyfree, permissive licenses allow the user to reproduce or modify the work and then release it under different terms, and even sell it. An example is the Creative Commons Attribution license, or CC-BY, which requires only that the creator is acknowledged in any future versions of the material. See copyfree.org.
 * Non-permissive licenses: Sometimes called copyleft, are more restrictive. Reproduced or modified work must be shared under the same terms as the original; for this reason, these licenses are sometimes called viral. Other restrictions might include non-commercial use only, or no derivatives. Some people regard these licenses as truly free and open, while others think they are less free than permissive licenses. An example is the Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike license, or CC-BY-SA.