Dispatches
Dispatches: Reviewing non-free images
You may remember that the 11 August 2008 Dispatch discussed the reviewing of "free" images. In this sequel, we discuss the reviewing of "non-free" images. As a refresher, the distinction between "free" and "non-free" is as follows:
- "Free" images are in the public domain or are copyrighted but have no restrictions on derivatives, commercial use and permission for use.
- "Non-free" images (used on Wikipedia with a "fair use" justification) retain restrictions on derivatives, commercial use and permission for use; therefore, we use them only under the restrictive terms of the non-free content criteria.
"Non-free" images often appear in Wikipedia's best articles. The featured article criteria state that "Non-free images or media must satisfy the criteria for inclusion of non-free content and be labeled accordingly". Similarly, the good article criteria require that "valid fair use rationales be provided for non-free content".