Guide to Copyright and AI‑Generated Content
DarkThread is a community that covers horror, ghost stories, mysteries, the occult, incident records, and creative content.
Members may post original writings, personal experiences, creative ghost stories, translations, summaries, reviews, and AI‑assisted content.
However, when using someone else’s work or real materials, you must follow copyright rules, source attribution, and factual accuracy standards.
This guide outlines the basic standards for safely creating and sharing content on DarkThread.
1. Basic Principles
Content posted on DarkThread should, in principle, be created directly by the author.
The following types of content are allowed:
Original ghost stories, personal experiences, and creative writing
Posts reorganized using publicly available materials
Reviews or analyses including short quotations and commentary
Images, illustrations, or comics you created yourself
Writing or images created with AI as a supporting tool
Translations, summaries, or introductions with proper source attribution
However, copying someone else’s writing, images, videos, translations, news articles, or paid content and posting them as-is is prohibited.
2. Acts That May Constitute Copyright Infringement
The following actions may be treated as copyright infringement or policy violations:
Copying and posting someone else’s blog posts, community posts, articles, or translations
Reposting full news articles or most of their content
Sharing paid content, e‑books, web novels, comics, or video subtitles without permission
Using others’ images, illustrations, photos, or screenshots without attribution
Using official artwork, character images, or logos without permission
Posting ghost stories or creative works made by others as if they were your own
Hiding sources or misleading others about the original creator
Making minor edits to the original text and reposting it as new content
Simply changing a few sentences or rearranging paragraphs does not make it a new creative work.
3. Guidelines for Using External Materials
You may reference external materials when writing a post.
However, you must reorganize the content in your own words and structure rather than copying it directly.
Acceptable approaches:
Summarizing an incident using multiple sources
Summarizing and interpreting the origins or transmission of a ghost story
Introducing a work or video with your own impressions and analysis
Using short quotations followed by your own explanation
Including source links or material names when possible
Approaches to avoid:
Copying the original text almost verbatim
Taking article paragraphs as-is
Posting a translation copied in full
Reposting full video subtitles
Posting without attribution while presenting it as your own writing
If your post is based on external materials, please include sources whenever possible.
4. Image Usage Guidelines
Images are an area where copyright issues can easily arise.
Please avoid using the following types of images:
Internet images with unknown sources
Official movie, game, animation, or comic screenshots
Illustrations, fan art, or photos created by others
Watermarked images from paid image sites
Sensitive photos containing real people’s faces
Images that may invade the privacy of victims, perpetrators, or families involved in real incidents
Examples of acceptable images:
Photos you took yourself
Images you created yourself
Images permitted for use under proper licensing
Public images with clear sources and usage terms
AI‑generated images of non‑existent subjects
Reconstructed images that do not directly depict real incidents or locations
If the source or usage rights of an image are unclear, please refrain from posting it.
5. Guidelines for AI‑Generated Content
DarkThread allows the use of AI for content creation.
However, AI‑generated content must not be mistaken for real materials, real incidents, or real photographs.
Acceptable uses:
Writing creative ghost stories with AI assistance
Generating images using AI
Using AI for sentence refinement
Using AI to summarize materials
Using AI to assist with titles, tags, or structure
Creating fictional reconstruction images with AI
Uses requiring caution:
Presenting AI‑generated stories as real incidents
Posting AI‑generated images as real scene photos
Portraying AI‑generated people as real victims or perpetrators
Writing AI‑generated information as fact without verification
Posting AI‑generated translations or summaries without checking the original
AI may be used as a supporting tool, but the final responsibility for the post lies with the author.
6. Recommended Labeling for AI Images
When using AI‑generated images, it is recommended to include a brief notice within the post.
Example:
This image is an AI‑generated illustration created to convey the atmosphere of the story and is not a real incident photo.
Or:
This image is a fictional reconstruction created based on the ghost story and does not depict a real person or location.
In posts involving real incidents, true stories, local legends, or real individuals, please be especially careful to ensure AI images are not mistaken for real materials.
7. Real Incidents and AI Reconstruction Content
You may use AI images or creative reconstructions when covering real incidents.
However, the following standards must be observed:
Do not generate faces of real victims or perpetrators
Add a notice if the image could be mistaken for a real scene
Do not depict graphic or explicit scenes
Do not use expressions that may cause secondary harm to victims or families
Do not present unverified information as fact
When dealing with real incidents, “accuracy and respect” take priority over “horror presentation.”
8. Guidelines for Translation and Summary Content
You may introduce foreign ghost stories, urban legends, community posts, or video content.
However, translation and summary content must follow these guidelines:
Do not post full translations of the original text
Summarize only the key points and add your own interpretation or organization
Include the original source when possible
Do not translate paid or private content without permission
Do not hide the original creator or source
Short introductions and commentary are allowed, but translations that replace the original text may be restricted.
9. Handling Problematic Posts
Posts that may involve copyright infringement or misleading AI content may be subject to action at the discretion of the moderators.
Possible actions:
Requesting source attribution
Requesting AI‑generated content notices
Requesting image removal or replacement
Changing the post category
Requesting partial edits
Setting the post to private
Deleting the post
Restricting account usage for repeated violations
Moderators may take necessary action based on rights‑holder requests, reports, or internal review.
10. Reporting Copyright Infringement
If you believe your copyrighted work has been used without permission, please contact us through the inquiry form.
Providing the following information will help with verification:
URL of the problematic post
URL or evidence of the original work
Whether you are the rights holder or an authorized representative
The reason you believe it is an infringement
After review, we will take necessary actions such as editing, privatizing, or deleting the post.
11. A Note to Authors
DarkThread values both creativity and documentation.
Rather than copying someone else’s writing,
a post reorganized in your own words lasts longer.
You may use AI as well.
However, instead of trusting AI outputs blindly, please verify and refine them yourself.
Good horror content comes not only from scary wording,
but from records grounded in sources, context, atmosphere, and responsibility.
DarkThread prioritizes copyright and creative ethics to maintain a safe and sustainable horror community.
Thank you.