What license and usage rules apply to PidgiWiki content?

PidgiWiki's own wiki content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License unless a page or file notes otherwise. That means you can generally copy, redistribute, and adapt the material, including commercially, as long as you give attribution and license your derivative under the same terms. The "unless otherwise noted" part matters: individual media files may carry different rights, so check the file page before reusing it.

The default license in plain terms

The site footer states: "Content is available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License unless otherwise noted."

Under CC BY-SA 3.0, you are free to:

• Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
• Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
• Use commercially — the license does not restrict commercial use

As long as you follow these conditions:

• Attribution — credit the source, link to the license, and indicate if changes were made
• ShareAlike — if you remix or build on the material, distribute your contribution under the same license
• No additional restrictions — you may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing what the license permits

The exception you must check

The phrase "unless otherwise noted" is the key qualifier. PidgiWiki is a media repository for video game artwork, promotional materials, and logos. Those files are frequently the property of game publishers and developers, and the wiki's blanket license does not automatically override a rights holder's terms.

Practical rule: treat the CC BY-SA 3.0 license as applying to the wiki's own text and structure, and verify each media file individually. Look at the file's description page for any rights statement, source credit, or usage note before you republish it.

Where to find the governing pages

PidgiWiki links its policy pages from the main page footer:

These are the authoritative pages if you need the site's own wording rather than a summary.

Attribution in practice

A compliant attribution for wiki text typically includes:

1. The title or page name you used
2. A link back to the source page on PidgiWiki
3. A link to the CC BY-SA 3.0 license deed
4. A note if you modified the material

For example, if you reuse text from a PidgiWiki article in your own project, credit "PidgiWiki contributors" with a link to the page and the license, and state that changes were made.

Common points of confusion

• The license covers the wiki, not necessarily every image. Game artwork and logos usually remain with their original owners.
• ShareAlike is a real obligation. You cannot take CC BY-SA 3.0 text, adapt it, and release the result under a more restrictive license.
• "Free to read" is not the same as "free to reuse without conditions." The license permits reuse, but attribution and ShareAlike still apply.
• Check the file page, not just the footer. The footer sets the default; individual files can differ.

If you need to reuse a specific file and its page does not clearly state terms, the safe move is to contact the uploader or the original rights holder rather than assume the site-wide license covers it.