Is your copyright issue...

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Do you suspect that...

Non-free copying

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Is the copying...

Blatant

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If...

  1. The infringing content has been copied from a non-free source that clearly predates it;
  2. The content does not fall under fair-use provisions; and
  3. The source is not a mirror or fork.

Then...

  • Try to revert the page to a revision that does not have infringing content, or if that is not possible:
  • Rewrite the infringing content (how do I do that?) or, if not possible, remove it (how do I do that?)
  • And check whether the infringing historial page revisions are eligible for revision deletion. Click here →

Or if the entirety of the article is (and always has been) a copyright violation...

  • then request speedy deletion by following the instructions for criterion G12. Click here →

Do you think that the copyright holder might be willing to allow usage on Wikipedia? Click here →

Suspected or complicated

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In some cases, copyright violations may be intertwined into the text, added by a repeat copyright violator or integrated into articles in other complicated ways.

If the above cannot resolve the issue, then list the article at the copyright problems page, where experienced editors will process the issue. Click here →

Procedures

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Listing a page at CP

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To list a page for review at the copyright problems noticeboard...

  • Place one of the following above the infringing text:
  • Then follow the instructions at the bottom of the template.

Requesting revision deletion

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If a copyright problem is blatant, the infringing revisions may be eligible for revision deletion if:

  1. The text content is a sufficiently long amount, as a proportion of the source.
  2. If it does not span a significant number of revisions and different users.

Removing and rewriting infringing content

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Once you have identified a copyright violation, you must decide whether to remove it or rewrite it. Rewriting content is always preferable, however in many cases the extent of the copyright violation or time constraints may make this difficult or impossible.

Rewriting content

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Glossary

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Blatant copying
  • Content that has been indisputably and indiscriminately copied from a non-free source, often with no or insufficient attribution (i.e. an inline citation).
Non-free
  • By default, all content is copyrighted (at least in the US, where Wikimedia projects are hosted). Copyrighted content is not forbidden for inclusion on Wikipedia, but it requires explicit, non-revocable and non-exclusive permission from the copyright holder.
  • Most copyright-holders do this by releasing their works under a free licence; non-free content is content that has not been released under a free-licence. Some works are in the public domain. These are acceptable for use on Wikipedia as long as the conditions above are followed.
  • All sources are presumed to be non-free unless otherwise stated.
Suspected or complicated copying
  • Any copying where there is a significant amount of doubt regarding the copyright status of the source, whether the source has copied from Wikipedia, when presumptive deletion is involved, or generally when an editor is unsure of how to deal with more complicated copyright violations.