中国杯-卡瓦尼倒钩苏神破门 乌拉圭完胜捷克
There is no legislation or precedent that deals specifically with signatures. Common sense must be used:
- The usual signature, that reproduces a permanent model and is used by its author as a personal identification, bears no artistic significance. Its legal status is similar to that of a brand or logo: it may be reproduced, as long as the reproduction cannot be mistaken for an authentic signature.
- Some signatures are drawn with an artistic intent, usually as part of a work of art. Being the result of an artistic work in its own right, such signatures characteristically do not follow a fixed model. They must be considered protected by author's right.
This page explains when to use {{PD-signature}}.
The {{PD-signature}} template is used to tag a scan or photograph of an individual's personal signature when that signature is considered ineligible for copyright protection both in the US and under local law. As with most content on Commons, the image can be kept only if it is public domain or available under a free licence both under US and under local law. US law does not grant copyright for typical personal signatures, so the only issue will usually be whether the signature is protected under local law.
This tag does not apply to signatures that are out of copyright due to their age, for example where the author died more than 70 years ago (or whatever the local copyright term may be). Simply use a tag such as {{PD-Old}} instead.
In many—but not all—countries, a typical signature is not considered sufficiently original to be granted copyright protection.
In all cases, judgement has to be used, as there is no absolute rule that defines whether a signature is or is not capable of copyright protection. Countries which typically do not grant copyright to signatures may do so if the signature is sufficiently complex to become a protectable artistic work (akin to a non-trivial drawing); on the other hand, countries which typically do grant copyright may not do so if the signature is extremely simple (e.g. a scribbled line or two).
It may not always be evident which country's law applies to a particular signature (and this may be a difficult legal question), but taking the individual's country of nationality would be a good start.
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COM:SIG United States
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OK for a typical signature. In Copyright circular Number 1 the US Copyright Office sets out a list of things on which copyright protection cannot be granted, including "Titles, names, short phrases, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; and mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering, or coloring."
The US Copyright Compendium, chapter 503.02(2) states that copyright will be denied to a character of Chinese calligraphy painted upon horizontally striated grass cloth. It states that "like typography, calligraphy is not copyrightable as such, notwithstanding the effect achieved by calligraphic brush strokes across a striated surface". Thus, it appears that calligraphy cannot be protected and, by analogy, signatures.
In Commons talk:Licensing/Archive 11#Autographs.2Fsignatures, there is a reference to User:BrokenSphere having sent an email to the US Copyright Office, and receiving the reply "A signature is not protected by copyright".
If the signature is sufficiently complex to be considered a protectable artistic work in the US (akin to a non-trivial drawing), it cannot be hosted on Commons regardless of the position under local law unless it has been licensed under a compatible license or would have fallen into the public domain under some other rule (e.g. expiration of copyright).
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Civil law countries require a relatively high minimum level of intellectual creativity which will exclude typical signatures from copyright protection.
If you are aware of specific caselaw or legal advice on this issue in any country, please add an entry below.
COM:SIG Germany
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No information available
COM:SIG China
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No information available
COM:SIG Japan
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No information available
COM:SIG Jordan
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OK for a typical signature, based on Article 3 of Jordanian copyright law, which specifies what is eligible to be copyrighted.
COM:SIG Peru
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OK for a typical signature. Because calligraphies consist of trivial mechanical processes that do not involve artistic and literary efforts, they do not pass the threshold of originality due to the lack of reasonable creative and individual transmission during their process ("mera naturaleza de las cosas").[1] On Resolution No. 0286-1998/TPI-INDECOPI explains the differences between a creative work and a trivial work, therefore not all creations are authentic and not are subject for their protection.[2] Also, Resolution No. 0148-2008/TPI-INDECOPI sets to the drawings of common use cannot pass the attributes of individuality, making the signatures look the same as the concept of uncopyrighted drawings.
COM:SIG Russia
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No information available
COM:SIG South Korea
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No information available
COM:SIG Taiwan
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No information available
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Most Common law countries use a "skill and labour" test to determine the minimum level of originality capable of attracting copyright protection, and in some countries such as the UK the required level is extremely low. Without some research into individual laws, it cannot be assumed that a signature from a Common law country is necessarily allowed on Commons. If there is real doubt about the position a local court would take, then the image must be deleted under the precautionary principle.
If the signature is extremely simple (e.g. a scribbled line or two), it will not be copyright even in Common law countries.
If you are aware of specific caselaw or legal advice on this issue in any country, please add an entry below.
COM:SIG United Kingdom
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No information available
???? ?????? ?????? PD-signature
You can apply the tag {{PD-signature}} to a photograph or scan of a personal signature provided that:
- The signature is highly likely to fall below the threshold of originality for protection in the US; and
- It is highly likely to fall below the threshold of originality for the stated country. (If the signature is of "typical" complexity/creativity, it should be assumed free in Civil law countries and unfree in Common law countries for which no specific country rule is listed above); and
- You explicitly state as a parameter to the tag which country's law is relevant, (e.g. the individual's country of nationality).
Note that you must specify a country, so that a judgement can be made as the minimum level of originality required under local law. If no country is stated, or if the signature is arguably complex/creative enough to attract copyright then the image cannot be assumed free and will be deleted under the precautionary principle.
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In many countries, a signature is capable of being protected as a trademark. However, even where a signature is protected by trademark laws it can still be hosted here: see Commons:Non-copyright restrictions. If you know that a particular signature is trademark-protected, you can add the {{Trademark}} disclaimer as well as the {{PD-signature}} tag.
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- ↑ Enrique, Cavero Safra (july 2015). "El concepto de originalidad en el derecho de autor peruano". Forsetti (5): 113-127. ISSN 2312-3583. Retrieved on 2025-08-07.
- ↑ Ministry of Justice (2015). "Precedentes y normativa del Indecopi en Propiedad Intelectual". Indecopi. ISSN 2409-7667.