BattleTechWiki talk:Copyright

Backcover texts

Sorry that I have to ask but I'm not really sure what I can put on Wiki and what not. For example I thought about putting the backcover text for a book into the description passage on the book entry. Those texts normally give a very good description of that book. Would that be OK?--BigDuke66 17:36, 18 July 2008 (CDT)

Ugh, BigDuke....I've been away for extended periods of time, so maybe this has been addressed somewhere I haven't seen it, but it has been my perspective we've shied away from direct copying of text. I see /no/ issue with what you're describing...afterall it was text intended to sell the product, rather than be text to buy, but I think we've gone a good way for each product article in using our own words to describe the product (with as little opinion as possible). Does that help at all? --Revanche ^{(talk|contribs)} 19:00, 18 July 2008 (CDT)

Don't be sorry! I love it when people ask questions because they are unsure. In fact, I would say I encourage it.

That sort of thing should not be on BTW. That work is copyrighted, likely by the publisher (I'm not 100% sure on that, but Wikipedia has more info on it if you are curious). You are, however, allowed to paraphrase, just don't copy down something that somebody else has written word-for-word. I wouldn't say you cannot put it up, but you should not. If you do, then it needs to be replaced ASAP by somebody's uncopyrighted, original work. --Scaletail 12:52, 19 July 2008 (CDT)