Muppet Wiki talk:External Links

I started this as a way to get discussion and solidly on what is (and isn't) appropriate to link to here. I've added external links, some which have stuck and some that others have removed as "not appropriate". We haven't had any big problems with external link, but there have been some minor conflicts and clashes over the past year that we've worked through and cleaned-up on a case-by-case. I based the beginnings of this policy on precedents and discussions our community has had on external linking cuppled with some other common wikis policies. My major question here is on linking to unsanctioned copyrighted works (lyrics, transcripts, videos, songs, etc). I know we don't post lyrics here, but we link to unofficial sites that do post lyrics. We don't allow links to videos of commercially available stuff, but a link to a single Sesame Street sketch on YouTube is done (but a link to a whole Muppet Babies episode is not). There are links to a video of Muppet commercials or industrial films (but not to a rare short film by Henson). There aren't links to places to download mp3s of rare out-of-print albums (I know of some sites out there), but there are links to videos of the musical numbers from the shows. What are the guides to linking to lyrics, transcripts, videos or downloads of copyrighted work not officially released? Here's Wikipedia's policy on the issue: "It is not necessary to obtain the permission of a copyright holder before linking to copyrighted material. However, If you know that an external Web site is carrying a work in violation of the creator's copyright, do not link to that copy of the work. Knowingly and intentionally directing others to a site that violates copyright has been considered a form of contributory infringement in the United States (Intellectual Reserve v. Utah Lighthouse Ministry). Linking to a page that illegally distributes someone else's work sheds a bad light on Wikipedia and its editors. This is particularly relevant when linking to sites such as YouTube, where due care should be taken to avoid linking to material that violates its creator's copyright."

What is our guideline (or what should it be)? Feel free to polish, add to, change and discus this whole thing – until we reach a consensus on a good guideline. -- Brad D. (talk ) 03:25, 5 January 2007 (UTC)