Template:PD-CAGov-SealNotice/doc

Usage

This tag is intended to be appended {{PD-CAGov}} for newly uploaded images of California government seals, flags, logos, and other emblems or graphics, etc., to provide clarification on the applicability of the {{PD-CAGov}} template to these items. Due to the fact that California is one of the very few U.S. states that explicitly place their government works in the Public Domain (Minnesota and Florida do as well, but to a lesser extent), it may be erroneously assumed by file patrollers that California government images, e.g. city or county seals and flags, are non-free images.

As referenced in this template, please see the results of this PUF case for a test of this doctrine as it specifically applies to the official seal of a California city.

This template is intended to be tagged to {{PD-CAGov}} only when it is used on images of California government seals, flags, logos, etc. It is not intended to cover other uses of {{PD-CAGov}}, which may need to be independently evaluated for their appropriateness. Additionally, {{PD-CAGov}} should be used with caution on seals and logos of California public universities (primarily the University of California)—these entities may have a statutory ability to copyright or otherwise place limitations on the use of their images. This template takes no position on that issue, and should not be appended to {{PD-CAGov}} when used in those cases. And, obviously, this tag and {{PD-CAGov}} do not apply to any works by U.S. Government agencies or subdivisions, even if the agency is located in California, or the work was created in California.

The ultimate purpose of usage of this notice template is to reduce erroneous referrals of free images of California government seals, flags, logos, etc., to WP:FFD or other deletion or non-free review processes.