RetroTechCollection:Copyrights

This policy covers copyright and licensing for the content hosted on RetroTechCollection: text, images, diagrams, schematics, software listings and other media.

Purpose

The policy is meant to make sure that material on RetroTechCollection respects the rights of its creators, does not infringe copyright, and states clearly the licence under which it 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 and datasheets
• software listings, ROM code snippets and BASIC programs
• logos, trademarks and branding

2. Public domain and free licences

2.1 Public domain

Material in the public domain may be reproduced freely. It includes:

• works whose copyright has expired (typically 70 years after the author's death, but this varies by jurisdiction)
• US Government works not subject to copyright
• works explicitly dedicated to the public domain, for example under 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 licences

Content under a compatible free licence may be used, provided the attribution and licence terms are honoured. Accepted licences are:

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

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

Licensed under [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ CC BY-SA 4.0].
Source: [URL or reference]

3. Fair use and non-free content

RetroTechCollection discourages non-free content unless it is strictly necessary. It is permitted only if:

1. no free alternative exists;
2. the use is minimal and illustrative, for example one diagram from a manual;
3. the use adds significant new context or commentary (it is transformative); and
4. you provide a description of the work, the purpose of the use (for example critical analysis or documentation), the amount used (for example one figure), and a justification of fair use under US law or the local equivalent.

Use the {{Non-free}} template on pages containing fair-use content:

{{Non-free
| source = ''Commodore SX-64 Service Manual'', 1984, electroluminescent display schematic
| rationale = Illustrates the EL backlight circuit; no free equivalent available.
| resolution = 600×400px
}}

The template also accepts author, permission and license.

4. Uploading and attribution

4.1 Local vs. Commons

• Upload locally when fair use or non-free restrictions apply. The file stays on RetroTechCollection's servers.
• Upload to Wikimedia Commons for public domain or freely licensed content. This is preferred, because it makes the file easier to find and reuse. Files on Commons can be used on this wiki directly by name.

4.2 Required information

When uploading any media, include:

• the title and a description of the work
• the author or creator
• the source URL or publication reference (manual name, date, page)
• the licensing information (public domain, CC BY-SA, or a fair use rationale)

Example file description:

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

== Source ==
Own photograph, May 2025.

== Licensing ==
Licensed under [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ CC BY 4.0].

5. Text content and excerpts

Text on RetroTechCollection should be:

• original writing, or paraphrased summaries of sources
• limited quotations (no more than 10% of freely available text) with clear blockquote markup and attribution

For longer technical excerpts, such as code listings and register tables, prefer linking to an external public domain or freely licensed PDF, or host it on Commons under an appropriate licence.

6. Trademarks and logos

Registered trademarks (for example "Commodore", "Atari" and "Sega") remain the property of their owners. Permitted uses are:

• identifying the subject of the page (nominative fair use)
• 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, either base your work on public domain or freely licensed originals, or substantially transform the copyrighted material (for example by redrawing, colouring or annotating it). Credit the original source and make clear which parts are your additions.

8. Takedown and enforcement

If you believe content on RetroTechCollection infringes copyright:

1. Open a ticket on the RTC Forum or email [email protected], giving:
   • the page or file name
   • a link to the original work
   • evidence of infringement
2. RetroTechCollection will review the report and, if necessary, remove or replace the content promptly.

See RetroTechCollection:Copyright violations for the full procedure.

9. Further reading

• Creative Commons licences overview
• U.S. Copyright Office: fair use FAQ
• Wikimedia Commons licensing