Wikipedia talk:Non-free content

This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Non-free content page.

Put new text under old text. Click here to start a new topic.
New to Wikipedia? Welcome! Learn to edit; get help.

Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74: 14 days

The project page associated with this talk page is an official policy on Wikipedia. Policies have wide acceptance among editors and are considered a standard for all users to follow. Please review policy editing recommendations before making any substantive change to this page. Always remember to keep cool when editing, and don't panic.

To help centralize discussions and keep related topics together, Wikipedia talk:Non-free content criteria redirects here.

Free illustration vs. non-free photo at Talk:Godfrey_Binaisa

Could use additional input at Talk:Godfrey_Binaisa#Restored_non-free_photo, regarding the usage of a free illustration vs. a non-free photo in a biography of a deceased person. Thanks, ~SuperHamster Talk Contribs 19:52, 4 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Amending NFCC#1

Given that the community has placed general restrictions on the use of AI generated images, at least for certain topics, it may be appropriate to modify nfcc#1 to acknowledge that non all free images are usable. So something like (bolded is new) Non-free content is used only where no free equivalent is available, or could be created, that would serve the same encyclopedic purpose and meets all applicable policies and guidelines. Masem (t) 14:00, 16 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Adherence to other applicable policies and guidelines is implicit in the use of all images. Perhaps it could be added as a clarifying note or example in the unacceptable images examples. -- Whpq (talk) 17:48, 16 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I think that would be a good change. I was not sure whether a non-free image could be used in place of a free AI one that could be created, even if the use of AI is banned (it isn't a policy or guideline yet). I certainly don't think it is implicit, and adding a clarifying note to unacceptable images examples does not resolve the issue. Hawkeye7 (discuss) 03:56, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Apologies, I don't understand what this would clarify and how that relates to AI images. Is the thought behind this that under the current NFCC wording, someone could say make an AI image of a person or an AI album cover for a recent album and thus that "or could be created" is not met? CMD (talk) 08:26, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The case arose from a user trying to add an AI image to Science fantasy. Given the newest of the genre, most of any work representing it is likely to be copyrighted. While AI could generate an appropriate image that would be freely licensed (since under US copyright rules, AI generated images can't hold a copyright), that would not be a suitable replacement per this clarification as the community has generally said no to using AI images (save where the context of AI generated images is relevant). Masem (t) 12:11, 17 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Discussion at WP:MCQ § List of Alexandrov Ensemble soloists

You are invited to join the discussion at WP:MCQ § List of Alexandrov Ensemble soloists. -- Marchjuly (talk) 11:18, 29 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Third opinion on File:Strange New Worlds "Those Old Scientists" screenshot.jpg

Hello, would appreciate some input on the FUR for the above image, currently being used to illustrate the infobox at "Those Old Scientists". I have been reverted when I removed it, citing the poor fair use rationale (the animated characters depicted are not discussed in the production or reception sections, and neither is the scene/gag itself) so would appreciate feedback. Der Wohltemperierte Fuchs ^talk 14:31, 2 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

The rationale on the file page could be a bit stronger, but the fact that the body of the article does talk of this scene, and how its unique for SNW, seems to otherwise get there for NFCC#8. Masem (t) 14:37, 2 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Non-free album covers used in main infoboxes of articles about deceased musicians

I'm curious what others think about File:Album cover of Nephi the Polynesian man.jpg and the way it's being used in Nephi Hannemann in terms of WP:NFC#cite_note-3 and item 9 of WP:NFC#UUI. There are actual photos of Hannemann (like this and this that seem better encyclopedically, even if they need to be licensed as non-free. The use of the album cover seems a bit much here, particularly if the main reason for using it as stated in non-free use rationale to benefit Hannemann's estate. UUI#9 doesn't specifically mention album covers, but the same reasoning would seem to be applicable. -- Marchjuly (talk) 09:57, 4 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, unless for some reason the album cover is known as the most iconic photo of a deceased person, this is not appropriate use for album covers, barring existence of any other photo of that person. Masem (t) 14:55, 4 May 2025 (UTC)[reply]