Redvers @ the Wikipedia wrote:
In the area I edit in most (British television
history), many of the subjects have a long visual
history of changing logos and graphic design. This is
usually reflected in the illustrations in the
articles.
Fair use galleries are verboten unless each image in the gallery has its
subject discussed by the article. I quote from the Copyright Act of
1976, 17 U.S.C. ยง 107: "...the fair use of a copyrighted work, including
such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means
specified by that section, for purposes such as /criticism, comment,
news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use),
scholarship, or research/, is not an infringement of copyright." If the
gallery fulfills these requirements (the images and article content must
be considered together), then the fair use is permissible. This hardly
ever happens, however. And as with most copyright issues...better safe
than sorry.
We're talking about galleries of historical company logos in an article
about the company. I'd say such use should count as "comment", and
probably as "teaching, scholarship or research".
But I suppose the real issue is not how either of us interprets those
words, but how they've been interpreted in court. Any real lawyers here
who'd care to comment?
--
Ilmari Karonen