License Review Methodology
This methodology explains how RightsGraph classifies media sources and assets for informational discovery use.
Core rules
- Unclear license status is treated as high risk.
- Unclear thumbnail permission means no thumbnail display.
- Commercial use permission is not treated as redistribution permission.
- Original source pages remain the canonical download location.
- Users must verify current source terms before final use.
Classification fields
Each source should be reviewed for metadata indexing, source linking, thumbnail display, hotlinking, thumbnail caching, attribution, commercial use, rehosting, scraping, bulk download and competing-service restrictions.
Risk levels
| Risk | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Low | Public-domain, CC0 or clearly open source with evidence. |
| Medium | Allowed with conditions such as attribution or API-only access. |
| High | Unclear or restricted terms, commercial platform constraints, or anti-competing language. |
| Avoid | Use case is incompatible with terms or too ambiguous for MVP. |
Disclaimer: This methodology is informational and does not replace legal review.