RetroTechCollection:Copyrights

This page explains RetroTechCollection’s policies on copyright and licensing for content—text, images, diagrams, schematics, software listings, and other media—hosted on the site.

Purpose

This policy ensures that material on RetroTechCollection respects the rights of original creators, avoids infringement, and clearly communicates the licensing terms under which content is made available.

1. Scope

This policy applies to all content contributed by users or imported from external sources, including:

Photographs of hardware, screenshots, scans, and diagrams
Excerpts from technical manuals, service guides, or datasheets
Software listings, ROM code snippets, and BASIC programs
Logos, trademarks, and branding assets

2. Public Domain and Free Licenses

2.1 Public Domain

Material in the public domain may be freely reproduced. Acceptable sources include:

Expired copyrights (typically 70 years after author’s death, varies by jurisdiction)
US Government works not subject to copyright
Works explicitly dedicated to the public domain (e.g., CC0)

When using public domain content, state:

''This image/manual/page is in the public domain.''  
Source: [URL or reference]

2.2 Free and Open Licenses

Content under a compatible free license may be used, provided attribution and license terms are honored. Accepted licenses include:

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY)
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA)
GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL)
MIT, BSD, or similarly permissive text licenses

Include a clear license statement on the page or file description:

''Licensed under {{cc-by-sa|4.0}}.'''  
Source: [URL or reference]

3. Fair Use and Non-Free Content

RetroTechCollection discourages non-free content unless strictly necessary. Permissible only if:

No free alternative exists.
The use is minimal and illustrative (e.g., one diagram from a manual).
The use adds significant new context or commentary (transformative).
You provide:

Description of the work
Purpose of use (e.g., critical analysis, documentation)
Amount used (e.g., one figure)
Justification of fair use under U.S. law or local equivalents

Use the

Non-free file usage justification

template on pages containing fair-use content:

{{non-free
| source = '''Electroluminescent display schematic''', ''Commodore SX-64 Service Manual'', 1984
| rationale = '''Illustration of EL backlight circuit; no free equivalent available.'''
| resolution = 600×400px
}}

4. Uploading and Attribution

4.1 Local vs. Commons

Local upload—Use when fair use or non-free restrictions apply. Files remain on RetroTechCollection servers.
Commons upload—Preferred for PD or freely licensed content. Increases discoverability and reuse.

4.2 Required Information

When uploading any media, include:

Title and description of the work
Author/creator name
Source URL or publication reference (manual name, date, page)
Licensing information (public domain, CC BY-SA, fair use rationale)

Example file description:

== Summary ==
Photo of Commodore 64C motherboard (ASSY 250469).

== Source ==
Own photograph, May 2025.

== Licensing ==
{{cc-by|4.0}}

5. Text Content and Excerpts

RetroTechCollection’s text content should be:

Original writing or paraphrased summaries of sources.
Limited quotations (≤ 10% of freely available text) with clear blockquote markup and source attribution.

For longer technical excerpts (e.g., code listings, register tables), prefer linking to an external public-domain or freely licensed PDF, or host on Commons under appropriate license.

6. Trademarks and Logos

Registered trademarks (e.g., “Commodore,” “Atari,” “Sega”) remain the property of their owners. Permissible uses:

Identifying the subject of the page (nominative fair use).
Using low-resolution logos for identification in infoboxes or galleries.

Always include:

''“XYZ” is a registered trademark of XYZ Corporation. Used here under nominative fair use for identification purposes only.''

7. Derivative Works

When creating diagrams, schematics, or annotated images:

Base your work on public-domain or freely licensed originals, or
Substantially transform copyrighted material (e.g., redrawn, colorized, annotated).
Credit the original source and clearly distinguish your additions.

8. Takedown and Enforcement

If you believe content on RetroTechCollection infringes copyright:

Contact Support with details:

Page/file name
Link to original work
Evidence of infringement

RetroTechCollection will review and, if necessary, remove or replace the content promptly.