Memory Alpha:Resource policy FAQ

Who decided what should or shouldn't be used as a resource?[]

Memory Alpha uses the resources that our Archivists have decided should be used for articles.

How are novels, comics, and games covered?[]

Although we restrict information about the Trek universe itself to the series and films for the time being, we also can't ignore the novels, comics, and other parts of the Trek franchise which have contributed to its success over the years. Therefore, we include lists for topics outside of the POV of our "in-universe" articles (i.e. all actors, episodes, movies, novels, etc. – stuff in the real world) to create a useful reference base.

I think I've identified a painting / map / building / etc. seen in a production; how should this information be used?[]

First of all, good job! Identification of background material can be a arduous process.

There are a few things to consider though before boldly adding the new information to pages:

1. Was this material identified by a production source?
2. Was this material created for the production?

If the answer is yes to the first question, then it is OK to use. After all, we have to trust production sources.

If the answer is yes to the second question but not to the first, then it is OK to use so long as the material is clearly the material that was used on screen.

If the material wasn't identified by a production source or created for the production, then the parts that are identifiable without the new material are OK to use. In other words, using third-party sources to assist in identification is OK, but only if afterward it can be concluded beyond a reasonable doubt that the on-screen material indeed conforms with the information derived from the third-party source.

Examples:

Paintings

It is important to make sure before stating what a painting is in the real world that someone hasn't cleverly added Patrick Stewart's face.

Maps

If a real world map of the United States is used on screen and there is a blob-ish label on the western tip of Lake Michigan, you should only add that information to Chicago if you can be certain that the label doesn't say anything other than Chicago.

Buildings

Establishing shots of real world cities can be heavily modified digitally or with matte paintings. Any real world buildings that might be identified should be because the building itself was discernible, rather than because the location of the building was known to have been in the shot.

Since the Star Trek universe is different from our own, the assumption should always be that things could be different. Also, please remember to link to the third party source if possible in a background note. See below for more information on how to do that.

How do I cite X resource?[]

All "in-universe" POV articles should be cited with link to an article about its source in a primary resource (a valid series, i.e. only episodes and films verifiably from the TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT, DIS, ST, PIC, LD, or PRO series, or the Star Trek films).

Articles should be cited both to a primary resource and a secondary resource if the information is derived from a secondary publication or information gathering method (such as an interview or document from another source). This applies to names, spellings, words or topics not immediately discernible from the filmed version but accessible through a resource that verifies it was devised for the production itself (not after the fact), and not contradicted by more prominent information.

Implicit or explicit research citation[]

It is possible to explicitly or implicitly cite a secondary source; the list of secondary sources to link to is currently expanding on Memory Alpha.

Implicit (no link)

Currently, MA offers no links to resources of episode scripts, but archivists who legally own scripts can attest to their content, even if there is nothing to link to. MA consensus has previously decided that reproducing entire episodic scripts on this site would be a copyright policy violation.

Explicit (linked)

This is a Memory Alpha article about the secondary resource being cited, that we can explicitly link to.

This is a non-Memory Alpha information source about the secondary resource being cited that we can explicitly link to.