Forum:Obtaining images from books?

Hello. I'm the founder of X-Files Wiki and I've been wondering what the copyright guidelines are for uploading images from books. In particular, a book that I own, The Making of The X-Files Movie, which has images of a film's production that I can find nowhere else; I can't even find similar production images from any other source. Would upload of some/all of these images be legally acceptable and, if so, what terms would they have to meet? I was also wondering if there are any issues with uploading images of front covers for books? --Mulder 17:06, 17 November 2008 (UTC)


 * If the book itself is copyrighted by Law, it cannot be redistributed without permission; unless of course that the copyright on the book has expired then you may get away with it. See on the back of the book, if it includes the name of the Publisher and the company who made it check the website (including) the terms of use, if the terms of use states that redistributing any of the contents is forbidden then don't upload it, other users however will probably say something different. Dark  Obsidian   17:14, 17 November 2008 (UTC)


 * Also view Help:Contents it includes wikia Guideline on copyrighted materials. Dark  Obsidian   17:16, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

Well, the book was published by HarperPrism (a former division of HarperCollins Publications) in 1998 which, according to Wikipedia, was "absorbed into the Avon Eos line", "when HarperCollins acquired Avon Books in 1999." What does this mean, in terms of copyright as it relates to wikis? Does the book's copyright still reside with HarperCollins, or does it become void? There is no information about the book on the HarperCollins website! Could someone please help?! --Mulder 18:39, 17 November 2008 (UTC)


 * Access and Use

All materials contained in this Site are protected by international trademark and copyright laws and must only be used for personal, non-commercial purposes. This means that you may only view or download material from this Site for your own use and you must keep all copyright and other proprietary notices attached to the downloaded material.

The reproduction, duplication, distribution (including by way of e-mail, facsimile or other electronic means), publication, modification, copying or transmission of material from this Site is STRICTLY PROHIBITED unless you have obtained the prior written consent of HCP or unless it is expressly permitted by this Site. The material covered by this prohibition includes, without limitation, any text, graphics, logos, photographs, audio or video material or stills from audiovisual material available on this Site. The use of materials from this Site on any other Web site or networked computer environment is similarly prohibited. Requests for permission to reproduce or distribute in digital form the online materials found on this Site - This quote was taken from the HarperCollins Terms of use - it seems that you can redistribute the content provided that it's for personal and non-commercial purpose. Dark  Obsidian  18:48, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

But that quote is entirely about copying what's available on the site but, as I said in my latest post to this forum topic, there IS no information on the site about the book I want to take images from, which would seem to mean that the quote does not apply and that the copyright information, therefore, is still unknown! --Mulder 18:57, 17 November 2008 (UTC)

What I want to know is whether the copyright info printed inside the book itself still counts or not, as the devision that published it no longer exists? --Mulder 19:00, 17 November 2008 (UTC)


 * Yes, it counts. Copyright extends to 75 years after the death of the author. However, you have a way out. Research "fair use" - it may mean that you can take some images out of that book, suitably cropped or downsized, to illustrate an article that educates people about this production. However, that depends entirely upon the exact circumstances of your intended use, so it's entirely your decision. Using as much as necessary and as little as possible is probably a good bet. Or writing (as in letter) to teh new owner. --◄mendel► 08:21, 18 November 2008 (UTC)